Despite its fame, Ghana is still one of the untapped tourist destinations in Africa. From the natural beauty of beaches, waterfalls, and national parks to museums and attractions, you will be spoiled for choice.
Ghanaians are the most hospitable people in Africa. However, when you visit Ghana, it is advisable to be culturally sensitive and environmentally friendly.
There are some things you could do in your home country that look cool but are absolute don’ts in Ghana.
Like every other country in the world, rules and regulations are guiding them. That is to say, there are things one may do and things that are prohibited.
The same applies to Ghana. Most of these activities aren’t illegal, but if you want to feel at ease and avoid others rolling their eyes at you, you should avoid them.
Below are the Do’s and Don’ts in Ghana.
1. Do not use your left hand to touch food or shake hands
In Ghana, you should generally not use your left hand to handle food or shake hands. The left hand is typically considered unclean in Ghana because it is reserved for “toilet purposes.”
Instead, use your right hand when eating, shaking hands, and passing things to others.
2. Do not point at people with your left hand
In Ghana, this is rude. Pointing with the left is a sign of disrespect. So if you find yourself needing to indicate something or someone in Ghana, do it with an open hand instead of just not with your left hand.
This custom also extends to using your hand to beckon someone over—only use the open-hand gesture instead of curling your fingers inward toward you.
If you find yourself needing to point at a person or object—never use your left hand!
In many parts of Africa, including Ghana, the left hand is associated with uncleanliness because it’s traditionally used for personal hygiene after using the washroom.
If you’re left-handed by nature, try not to point at all to avoid offending anyone.
3. Use your right hand to great and eat
When greeting someone, offering anything, or receiving something, use your right hand. Your left hand is dirty and not to be used when greeting anyone.
When being offered food or drink, accept it with your right hand and never with the left. Passing money should also be done with the right hand.
To go as far as local customs go, always eat with your right hand only.
4. When eating, do not put your left hand on the dinner table
When eating, do not put your left hand on the dinner table.
It’s a simple rule, but one that is important to follow if you are dining in Ghana.
Eating with your left hand is considered filthy in many parts of Ghana and West Africa, as it’s traditionally associated with cleaning yourself after using the toilet.
5. Always check if your guests are comfortable or need something
Always check if guests are comfortable or have something they need. If a friend shows you to their house, do not sit down until they have told you to.
Do not start eating until they have sat down. If you are hosting a guest, offer them something to drink or eat and make sure they are comfortable.
6. When visiting, do not ask for for food, drinks, or money unless the host offers you
While visiting someone, it is common practice not to ask for food or money unless the host says otherwise.
This is because they may perceive you as needy and your hosts do not want you to feel uncomfortable or out of place.
If the host says that it is okay for you to ask for food, drink, or money, then do so.
However, if they say no, then it would be best not to push the issue and cause any tension.
If the host offers you something, there is no need to feel awkward about accepting their generosity.
Finally, do not feel pressured into eating more than you are comfortable with! You will look like a gracious guest even if you only eat 2/3rds of what they provided!
If they see you enjoy their food or drinks, they may even offer more!
This does not prevent you from asking for drinking water. Most Ghanaian people will give you water upon your arrival.
7. The head is sacred, touch no one's head
In Ghana, people have a lot of respect for one another. In this way, they are similar to other people in the world.
However, they have a special rule when it comes to touching someone’s head. You should never do that!
This is because the head is considered sacred – and not just in Ghana, but all over Africa.
Simply, touching someone’s head could be disrespectful or intrusive and, because of their culture, if you touch their head, it might feel like an invasion of privacy or personal space.
So don’t do it!
8. Do not take pictures of people without seeking their consent
If you want to take a photograph of someone, always ask first. It is important to respectfully preserve the privacy of Ghanaians.
Snapping photos without permission can be considered rude behavior in some countries, but in Ghana, it is considered particularly offensive and should be avoided at all costs.
If you cannot get permission before taking a photo, ask your subject if they would like to see the photo afterward.
This will allow them to feel acknowledged and respected after the photo was taken, which has been known to help reduce tension or anger following an impromptu picture-taking session.
Another tip for photography in Ghana is to try not to take too many pictures of people individually.
Instead, take photographs of overall scenes that capture the essence of what you experienced and where you went during your stay in Ghana.
This will provide more clarity and context than focusing on one particular person or group of people would.
Photographs that contain groups of people are acceptable as well as long as no one appears uncomfortable in the shot, and there aren’t any other indicators that they did not want their photograph taken (like a hand covering their face).
9. There are more don'ts in Ghana & rules of that should be followed
Ghana is a country of great diversity, with cultural and ethnic groups such as the Frafra, Ashanti, Ewe, and Ga.
There is no single set of customs that applies to every one of Ghana’s residents. However, there are certain rules of etiquette that should be followed when in Ghana.
Research basic Ghanaian traditions before traveling to the country. The more you know about local norms and customs, the less likely you are to offend someone or end up in trouble
Don’t: Ask locals how many wives they have unless you already know them well. It’s impolite to ask personal questions like this until you’ve met someone a few times and become acquainted with them better.
Do: Observe traditional greetings when greeting another person in Ghana—that means shaking hands firmly when meeting someone new and using eye contact throughout your interaction with them (a common way of showing respect).
Don’t: Stare at people or otherwise behave ostentatiously. Ghanaians value politeness in their interactions; loud or arrogant behavior may cause others to feel offended or annoyed by your presence.
At the end of the day, any social interaction is a risk taken, as you are at risk of offending someone with something you might do, even unknowingly.
The intent of actively seeking to make people comfortable makes it a lot better, and if you’re ever when you’ve probably offended someone, just apologise and move on.
You’d also receive impressive looks and nods from locals when they see you respect them and their culture.
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