10 Facts you may (or may not) know about Ghana!

In honour of Ghana’s 66th Independence Day, here are 10 things you may or may not know about Ghana:

  1. Ghana was originally known as the Gold Coast before becoming the Republic of Ghana on 6th March 1957.
  2. The original Empire of Ghana was actually situated in the area that now comprises of south east Mauritania and part of Mali.
  3. Currently, there are 16 regions in Ghana, all of which have their own capital. Originally after independence there were only 5 regions, Eastern, Western, Ashanti, Volta and Northern.
  4. Although there are approximately 80 native languages spoken in Ghana, the official language of Ghana is actually English.
  5. Lake Volta is the world’s largest artificial reservoir and is completely situated within Ghana. The Akosombo dam utilises the lake to generate a portion of Ghana’s electricity.
  6. Ghana is one of Africa’s most peaceful nations.
  7. The largest city in Ghana is Accra.
  8. Ghana was proclaimed a British colony in 1875 and named the gold coast due to the vast amounts of gold found in the area.
  9. Ghana was the first Sub Saharan country to gain independence from colonial rule.
  10. The word Ghana means Warrior King in Soninke, a language which is actually primarily spoken in present day Mali.

By Christiana Sarsah

GYP Travel Series: Lake Bosomtwe

Lake Bosomtwe is Ghana’s only natural lake, formed in an ancient impact crater with a surface area of 49 square kilometres and maximum depth of 81 metres. The lake is located in the Ashanti region, about 30 kilometres south-east from Kumasi.

Lake Bosomtwe gets its name from old legends. In 1648, an Ashanti hunter named Akora Bompe was pursuing then subsequently injured an antelope (‘Otwe’ in Twi). The antelope continued running until it disappeared in a pond; it was as if this body of water wanted to save the animal. Akora Bompe settled by the pond, eventually naming it ‘Bosomtwe’, which means ‘antelope god’.

Lake Bosomtwe is surrounded by lush forest, wetland and mountain ecosystems, with about 30 villages in close proximity. The main village, Abono, is a popular resort for both tourists and locals, with hiking, swimming, fishing and boat trips as common activities. There is also a cocoa farm nearby and plenty of coconuts to try for a small fee.