Ghana – family comes first

Ghana – family comes first

The Republic of Ghana is a sovereign state in West Africa and, in 1957, was the first nation in sub-Saharan African to declare independence from colonisation. It has a population of about 24 million people and the capital is Accra.

Ghana is a petroleum and natural gas producer and in recent years has experienced rapid economic growth. It is also one of the world’s largest gold and diamond producers and the second largest cocoa producer in the world.

Family is very important to Ghanaians and is the primary source of identity, loyalty and responsibility. Family obligations take precedence over almost everything. Women are respected and mothers, in particular, have a high status as it is believed that people’s affiliation to the clan or family comes from their mothers.

Doing business in Ghana can be challenging for people who are accustomed to a tight and busy schedule. The concept of time can be flexible, and punctuality is not viewed as such a virtue as it is elsewhere. That said, it is a good idea to be on time for meetings and simply build a time buffer into the schedule.

Ghanaian society is hierarchical and older people are highly respected for their age, experience and position. Often people look to their elders to make decisions that are in the best interests of the family or group.

It is best to address Ghanaians by their academic, professional or honorific title with their surname and the most common greeting is a handshake with a smile. If invited to a Ghanaian’s home, you are not expected to bring a gift, although a small gift for the children is always highly appreciated. Gifts should be wrapped and offered with the right hand or both hands, never with the left.

Share your Ghana business experiences.

Sources: Wikipedia, Kwintessential, InterNations