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Ghana 2013

Ghana

Brekumanso, Ghana

For many years, the village of Brekumanso had a small school made of bamboo, mud and tin where students crowded into open class­rooms. Thanks to a grant, a new, larger school has been built. Here, on the day of the new school’s dedication, two women gaze into a classroom window. Are they wishing they could have attended school when they were girls? Perhaps they are thinking of the bright futures of their children who will attend classes in this brand new school.
Photo © 2010 Marian Ruge
Peace Corps Volunteer
Ghana 2008-2010

Ghana/Republic of Ghana
West Africa, on Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d’Ivoire & Togo. Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area. 238,533 km2 (slightly < OR), 18% arable.

Capital Accra (2.3M)

Population 25M (105.8/km2)

Life expectancy 62 years

HIV/AIDS 1.8%

Literacy 58%

Lang(s) Asante 15%, Ewe 13%, Fante 10%, Boron (Brong) 5%, Dagomba 4%, Dangme 4%, Dagarte (Dagaba), 4%, Akyem 3%, Ga 3%, Akuapem 3%, other (inc. English OFFICIAL) 36%

Religions Christian 69%, Muslim 16%, Trad. 9%, other 1%, none 6%

Ethnic Groups Akan 45%, Mole-Dagbon 15%, Ewe 12%, Ga-Dangme 7%, Guan 4%, Gurma 4%, Grusi 3%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other < 10%

Gov’t Consti­tutional Democracy

GDP/cap $3,100

PCVs 1961-present (first to host PCVs); health, water sani­ta­tion, educa­tion, small business develop­ment, environ­ment. Volunteers in country: 143; total to date: 4,199.

Nat’l holiday Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Adult Books

I Was Never Here and This Never Happened
by Dorinda Hafner

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press; Softcover Ed edition (February 6, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0898156416

Book Description
Ghana native Hafner, host of A Taste of Africa, a cooking program on Australian television, mixes recipes, stories from her homeland and personal anecdotes in this eclectic 1996 memoir.

Kids' Books

Kofi and His Magic
by Maya Angelou

Format: Hardcover, 42 pages
ISBN-10: 0-375-82566-5
Age Range: 6–9 years
Publisher: New York: Crown, 2003

Films

Film: Emmanuel's Gift
Directors: Lisa Lax, Nancy Stern (2005)

Music

ADOWA dance (7:11 min)

Amakye Dede: Bebrebe yi (2:31 min)

Focus Word

Focus Word for 2013 - "Friendship"

Ewe: Homye (HOHN-yay)
Dangme: Huerbormi (h’way-BOH-me)
Ga: Nanyofemo (nah-nyo-FAY-mo)
Twi: Enanfuo (eh-nahn-FOO-ah) or Adanfuo (ah-dahn-FOO-ah)

Floral design from fabric.
Copyright © Julie Olsen

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