Six Keys to Understand Ghanaian Culture

As a stable and growing democratic nation, Ghana has a lot to offer. Its culture and people have traveled far and to every corner of the globe. Some well-recognized figures such as Kofi Annan are just a tip of what Ghana has offered to the world.

From personal experience, I share the following observations of Ghanaian people and its culture with you. As I have mentioned in the previous articles of How to Work Effectively with Chinese, How to Easily Speak Mandarin Chinese, and the keys are my own model of UNIQUE:

Understand, before being understood

No Presumption. Even with good intention

Inquire. ASK

Quote back and confirm

Use humor

Empathy

Let’s first dive into some key words in Ghanaian culture: Formal, a well-structured and hierarchy society, Family-oriented, Females playing relatively larger roles in society and a keen focus on Present time.

To elaborate the culture in a more detailed way, let’s take a look at some do and don’ts for living a real life in Ghana:

1. General practice:

• Dress well and formal to any functions. Living in a hot and tropic climate, it is tempting to dress shorts and T-shirts in Ghana year-round, but instead dress as nice as you can under the weather condition unless you know the host very well
• Greet people of seniority and higher position first
• Respect woman who are very capable and hard working
• Show your appreciation of the culture. People love to present and gift you with traditional Kente cloth, you are supposed to accept and appreciate the artistic beauty

2. Business Etiquette:

• People love handshakes, especially among males. It’s a way to show respect and friendliness. Ghanaian way of handshaking among themselves will hold the right hand in the normal manner but will then twist and click each other’s middle finger
• Wait for a woman to extend her hand first
• Have enough time for “small talks” such as health, family and jobs. The greetings will ensure mutual understanding between the two parties
• Honor people at higher positions. Speak more formally or conservatively if not sure of the positions.
• Don’t rush to first name basis unless quite familiar with each other.
• Use two hands or right hand to present business cards, don’t use left hand

3. Meeting People:

• Address people by their former titles, especially for people holding a higher position or having a long experience
• Respect the senior and traditional leaders such as King, Queen Mothers.
• Don’t get disappointed by people not showing up on time, traffic and road situations vary
• Business are done by people, take time to develop a relationship
• People usually talk loud

4. Gift Giving Etiquette

• If invited to a Ghanaian dinner, you are not expected to bring gift. I actually heard the locals complain about westerner culture of having to bring something to a dinner.
• Thought is more important than the value of a gift
• Give gift using right hand or two hands, never left hand

5. Dining Etiquette

• If invited to a dinner by locals, accept as a sign of friendship
• Eat with your right hand only, scoop the foods with the thumb and first two fingers
• If not skillful using hands, ask for utensils
• Formal table manners are required, such as seating and asking for additional servings

6. How to Communication with a Ghanaian

• Ghanaians are indirect communicators. They tend to prefer a harmonious relationship and flexible in implementing rules.
• Respect people but firm on principles.
• A prevailing bottom line price is respected in a negotiation. It is always important to know before going to a business talk, search around for the commonly accepted rules.
• Take time to observe and ask a local guide to show around, know the potential pitfalls beforehand and don’t fall into them.

You are welcome to quote freely from this article once you give proper attribution. (A link to letterfromghana.blogspot.com and author: Brian Yang would be appreciated.) You are also welcome to republish this article in full once you give the proper attributions.

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