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Cultural Guidelines while visiting Ghana

Cultural Guidelines in Atlanta, Georgia

  1. Handing something over to someone or receiving something from someoneAlways use your right hand to exchange items and to eat. In Ghanaian culture, the left hand is considered to be the ‘toilet hand’ and is, thus, avoided for greeting, and giving/taking items.
  2. Respect an elderly person.Be respectful to whoever you are interacting with, especially, the elders. Do not call them by their first names.
  3. It is important that you visit the village chief, when in a rural area.When you do visit the chief, remove your hat and your hands from your pockets when greeting the chief. Do not offer your hand to shake his hand until he does it first.
  4. Greeting peopleGhanaians like to greet and expect to be greeted as well. So always greet them when you enter a room with people in it or when come in close contact with them. They will be expecting that, so you should not wonder why they are staring at you strangely if you do not greet them.
  5. Purchasing items in the market or along the street
    6. Always bargain when shopping in the market or along the street. Do not offer to pay the first price they tell you as the first price is usually two or even three times the actual price. Especially when they realize you are a foreigner.
  6. Keep an insect repellent with you
    7. It is very common to experience mosquito bites while in Ghana. Use your repellent over your skin if you happen to be in a place with some mosquitoes
  7. Learn a Few Words in Local Languages.
    8. Learn a few routine words and/or greeting phrases in local languages to gel in quickly with the natives. For example: “Etisen” in the TWI LANGUAGE means how are you? And the response is: “Eyeh” meaning I’m fine

The DO NOTs

Ghanaians are not very good with punctuality, especially when it’s a social event. No event starts on time. So do not be too punctual audience otherwise you will sit for an hour waiting for others to arrive. It is called the “African time”. However, do not be late for a business meeting or appointment.

Do not expect the kind of customer care you are used to in more advanced countries. Customer service is still a work in progress in Ghana so don’t get too worked up if you are not getting what you expect.

Do not accept the first price a cab driver gives you. It’s best to use ride hailing apps to move around. But in the case, there isn’t any, ask your guardian for a price range to the location.

Do not light up a cigarette in a market area or public place.

Do not take photographs of people without their permission.

Do not trust all street food to be OK. There might be issues with hygiene and some may also be very spicy.

Do not sniff food. Try not to waste food, water, or any resourceful thing. Even the smallest of things are valued a lot in Ghana.

Do not curse or use any vulgar words

Do not make any derogatory or funny comments about religion or ethnic/political groups. Do not even think about it!