30 Inspirational Ghanaian Proverbs

Ghana is one of the African countries that inhabit people that have influenced the world in different spheres of life, and has contribute their quota. When you engage in a conversation with a Ghanaian, you have a tendency of living wiser than you were. Most of their wisdom can be seen in their wise sayings. These wise sayings  cover many broad topics such as commons sense, patience, kindness, humility, greed, courage, family as well as survival and patriotism.

30 Inspirational Ghanaian Proverbs

 1) A powerful deity is the one to whom sacrifices are offered.

 2) A stranger dances - he does not sing.

 3) A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it.

 4) A woman is like a rat: even if it grows up in your house, it steals from you.

 5) Rain wets a leopard's skin, but it does not wash out the spots.

 6) The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.

 7) Two small antelopes can beat a big one.

 8) When a man is coming toward you, you need not say, "Come here."

 9) Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together.

10) Hate has no medicine.

11) Hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king.

12) If there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.

13) A Worthy cause is worth pursuing to the end.

14) Even if the old woman has no teeth, her tiger nuts remain in her own bag.

15) Even the elephant can fan off flies with its short tail.

16) A crab does not beget a bird.

17) A cracked bell can never sound well.

18) It is the calm and silent water that drowns a man.

19) It is the fool's sheep that break loose twice.

20) No one tests the depth of the river with both feet.

21) One camel does not make fun of another camel's hump.

22) A child does not laugh at the ugliness of his mother.

23) A healthy person who begs for food is an insult to a generous farmer.

24) By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed.

25) Do not call the forest that shelters you a jungle.

26) One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.

27) Only when you have crossed the river can you say the crocodile has a lump on his snout.

28) When a man is wealthy he may wear an old cloth.

29) When a man's coat is threadbare, it is easy to pick a hole in it.

30) The blacksmith in one village becomes a blacksmith's apprentice in another.

Recommended Reading: 10 Important Festivals in Ghana

5 Major Myths and Misconceptions About Africa

Most of these myths and misconceptions about Africa are common in the west. Have you ever wondered why most of the countries regarded as third world countries are in Africa? have you ever wondered why most of the pictures of the devil is that of a black man? its of no doubt Africa has been associated with evil, but the good news is that Africa is far more better that these people think, though some few places in Africa might still be battling with these issues, but the fact remains that  majority of the African countries  have seen the light.

5 Major myths and misconceptions about Africa 

1) African Politicians Are All Corrupt:

African countries are not the only one with corrupt politicians, though the continent has produced a good number of corrupt politician, they have as well proved to the world that Africa is capable of producing an honest leader, Nelson Mandela is a typical example. Some of the political problems in Africa can be traced back to the colonial era and the legacies they left behind which most of it reflects greed and corruption. 2011 elections in Uganda and Cameroon, left the incumbents securely in place after questionable tactics and ballot counts. But the North Africans have certainly shown the way forward, starting with the Tunisian revolution and (so far) ending with the toppling of Libya's Gaddafi. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia along with 2 other women received the Nobel Peace Prize. And Zambia had a successful and fair election with a change of ruling party.

2) People in Africa don’t wear clothes or shoes:

As funny as this one sounds, most people actually still think that way. Sometimes people think that when an African comes to this part of the western countries for the first time, that this is the first time they’ve worn clothes and shoes. Well, the fact is that Africans do wear clothes and shoes, and the Africans themselves produce most of them. We may wear our native garb or choose to wear the same clothes you have on right now. This is not to say that there may be remote tribes that dress different or may not be as fully covered when it comes to clothing. But for the most part, Africans in Africa wear clothing and shoes.

3) Africa is always hot:

That one part of Africa is hot does not mean that the whole of Africa is hot. If you've only visited West Africa, I'd say it would be entirely appropriate to say "it's always hot in Africa". But that's where this myth stops. It snows in Africa, yes it does. Both northern and southern Africa experience cold winters with frequent frost, as well as hot summers. Mountains, plateaus, cold oceans, warm oceans, rainy and dry seasons -- all affect weather patterns in individual countries as well. It is fair to say that conversations about the weather in much of Africa tends to focus more on whether its dry or wet, than about the temperature being hot or cold. More about the weather and season in Africa. (Read: Key Events in the History of Ghana)

4) Africa is just a country:

Its good that we make this point clear, Africa is not just a country, its a continent, as a matter of fact, it is the largest continent in the world. It baffles me when people refer to as if its just a country. People ask some funny questions such as   “What country are you from? Africa?” sounds so naive! Even if you don’t know much about a place, I would think people would at least get this question right. Please do yourself a favor and take a look at a globe or a map. Africa is neither an Island, colony, or a nation. In fact, if you take a closer look, you will see that it is made up of quite a number of different countries, and home to 54 independent, with diverse ecosystems, biomes, cultures, and people.  Each country has its own currency, flag, anthem, history, cuisine, music, identity and blend of cultures. In fact more than 2000 languages are spoken in Africa.

5) Africa is  Backward Technologically:

This idea about Africa is quite funny.  Anyone who has visited Africa known this is not true. In Ghana I've watched entire cars being re-built from scrap by "fitters", all without an engineering degree. Walk through any school playground in Zambia and you're bound to see a child play with a home made toy car complete with steering capabilities. What some African nations lack is access to education and resource. Kenya has established a highly effective mobile banking system, opening up rural areas to credit in ways that has revolutionized small businesses. These and many more of technology based innovations can be found in Africa.

Top 5 Restaurants in Accra

  For visitors or people resident in Accra and are on the look out for a special treat, I can assure you that  Accra is home to some exceptional restaurants known for hot cuisine. Predictably, some of the best are French, but you can  find Asian and Italian foods served in most of the finest restaurants in ghana, you can also get local dishes at its best. Prices range from reasonable to budget-busting - be prepared - but if you're after fresh, expertly-crafted dishes, attractive surroundings and the chance to mix with Accra's elite, these spots are where to eat.

5) Buka

Strategically located close to the centre of Osu, Buka is, without any doubt, one of the best to have lunchcity. More often than not it has the full tables to show for it. Set on the first floor, so there’s a sense of escape from the throng, with lively music and wraparound wooden trellises adding to the ambience. The food they provide are mainly that of  Ghanaian and Nigerian specialties – dishes include okra stew and eba (a dough ball eaten with stews). Service can slow down during busy lunches.

4) Maquis Tante Marie

An astonishing garden restaurant situated in the Labone district, this one is popular across the spectrum. You might see Ghanaians on a date, family groups etc The extensive menu includes dishes from all over West Africa, and the waakye — a mix of beans and rice, served with grilled meat, shito pepper sauce, and salad — is great. Gari foto, a preparation of fried, spiced cassava chips that’s often described as “Ghanaian couscous,” is also good here, but it’s worth asking for extra sauce as it tends to come up rather dry. Go for a seat upstairs, on a wooden balcony surrounded by leaves and cooled by a light breeze.

3) Country Kitchen 

The covered outdoor Country Kitchen is in the Ringway Estates area, traditionally inhabited by  rich Ghanaians and civil servants.Including Current president's father John Mahama,  once owned a house here.Omo tuo — rice balls in groundnut soup — is a Sunday special, but  you will have to come  early for lunch, especially on sundays; once the church opposite has turned out the place becomes packed, and the crowds clear the kitchen of everything other than chicken and jollof rice. Portions are huge, but just take your time — the location makes this an interesting place to hang out.

2) Bread & Wine

 

Finally Bread & Wine has opened its doors and it’s been well worth the wait. Just giving a few hintof dishes availaable in this restaurant will give you a clue to its heritage: Daube de boeuf, blanquette de veau, margret de canard and entrecote béarnaise with fries. Yes, this is unashamedly classic bistro cooking – and all the more welcome for it. Too many eateries in Ghana fear a single cuisine, but the team behind Bread & Wine have stayed true to their ideas and passions.  Breakfast, served from 9am, include eggs Benedict of course (GHc38) and various superb croissants (GHc6). The lunch menu includes club sandwiches, a brioche Croque Monsiuer and steak frites. There’s also a take away bakery as well. You can also see some some key traditional events in old Ghana

1) Khana Khazana

Tucked behind a petrol station (Engen), this outdoor Indian restaurant is a gem – cheap, delicious and with long opening hours. One of the house specialities are the dosas (savory parcels made of rice flour normally eaten for breakfast). Sunday is thali (set meals) day.

5 Reasons Why You will Love to Visit Ghana

Most times when you hear people planning for a vacation, only a few talk about Ghana, and that's simply because they are not aware of the unique and wonderful experiences that are in this African country. If you're looking for a trip off the usual tourist path in Paris, london, Bahamas,etc then Ghana may be just the spot.Ghana is a great starting off point for Sub-Saharan travel due to the nation's stability and its use of English as the official language. The fact is that there are many goood reason to choose Ghana as your next point of tourism, but in this list we have streamlined it into 7 major reasons why you will love to visit Ghana.

1) Friendly people

This is one place you encounter people with smiles, willing to help you at every point. The people of Ghana are probably the friendliest people you will ever met. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you're doing, the locals want to talk to you. Even at odd hours, locals would stop their cars or turn from their market stalls and try to talk to you. Remember that in Ghana greetings are very important. Locals tend to say hello to strangers, so be polite and wave back. As a visitor, you will constantly hear the word "oburoni" (foreigner) being shouted at you. While this may seem offensive - it took me a bit of getting used to - the locals are just trying to get to know you. Take the opportunity to have a conversation with someone new and learn something.

2) Natural Beauty

Ghana’s picturesque landscape is a beautiful to behold. From mountain peaks to valley-lows through the gargantuan Afram plains. Travelling from North to South or vice versa is an unforgettable experience. The forests, mangroves, grassland and rivers always keep your eye busy. Although Ghana is not a safari destination, it still has plenty of opportunities to experience nature and wildlife.  Along with the many beaches and parks around the country, the city of Cape Coast offers the chance to trek over a swinging canopy bridge suspended high over the trees of Kakum National Park.

3) Rich cultural tourism

The culture is very diverse within the country, including six major ethnic groups - each with their own languages and dialects. From the point of arrival to departure you are surrounded by the unique and very diverse cultures of Ghana. The Ghanaian culture from North to South, East to West offers special treatment for visitors that will blow your mind.

4) Beautiful beaches

 Ghana is home to some excellent beaches, and along with lying in the sun there are usually local artisans, fishermen and drummers giving the, usually lazy, experience a cultural touch. I loved chatting with the craftsmen as they made bracelets and art, and listening to the fishermen sing as they pulled in their nets. Even when these interesting locals aren't around, the beaches in Ghana offer a refreshing and picturesque retreat from the more chaotic streets of the cities.

5 ) Peaceful and stable

   
 Ghana has been the most peaceful and stable country in sub-saharan africa but on the tenents of "Freedom and Justice" which permeates all we do and has become the envy of others. Even in the present world were you hear here cases of terrorist attacks everywhere, Ghana has maintained a level of peace and is not known to inhabit any terrorist group nor has it recorded any form of terrorist attack.