Ghana
Ghana
Fish is an important source of protein in Ghana. Included in a variety of dishes, it is usually sold dried or canned—so fresh fish is a special treat. Fishermen go out early every morning on Ghana’s Volta River, and when the boats return, women wade out to meet them, carrying large containers in which to bring the morning’s catch to shore.
Olivia Johansen © 2017
PCV Ghana 2017–2018
Agriculture
Republic of Ghana
Western Africa
Area 92K mi2; 239K km2
Arable 21%
Population 29M (315/mi²; 121/km²)
Gov’t Presidential republic
Capital Accra (2.5M)
GCP/capita $4,700
Unemployment 12%
In poverty 24%
Wealth owned by top 10% 33%
Life expectancy 68 yrs
Infant Mortality 32/1K live births
Literacy 77%
Languages English (off.), Asante, Ewe, Fante, Boron (Brong), Dagomba, Dangme, Dagarte (Dagaba), Kokomba, Akyem, Ga, other
Religions Christian 71% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28%, Protestant 18%, Catholic 13%, other 11%), Muslim 18%, traditional 5%, other/none 5%
Health 4% of GDP
Education 4% of GDP (119th)
Military <1% of GDP (150th)
Labor Force Agriculture 45%, industry 14%, services 41%
PCVs 1961–present CURRENT: 117, Agriculture, Education, Health; TTD: 4,799
Adult Books
Obroni and the Chocolate Factory: An Unlikely Story of Globalization and Ghana's First Gourmet Chocolate Bar
By Steven Wallace
Genre: Nonfiction
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Skyhorse (November 21, 2017)
Language: English
Setting: Ghana
ISBN-10: 151072365X
ISBN-13: 978-1510723658
Summary:
What country makes the best chocolate? Most people would answer "Switzerland," or, if they're discerning, "Belgium" or "France." But, how many cocoa trees grow in Zurich? Lyon? Antwerp? Shouldn't the country known for growing the best cocoa beans be the one that makes the best chocolate? So, captivated by theories of international trade but with precious little knowledge of cocoa or chocolate, Steven Wallace set out to build the Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company in Ghana—a country renowned for its cocoa and where Wallace spent part of his youth—in a quest to produce the world's first export-ready, single-origin chocolate bar. What followed would be the true story of an obroni—white person—from Wisconsin taking on the ultimate entrepreneurial challenge.
Written with sensitivity and devastating self-awareness, Obroni and the Chocolate Factory is Steven's chaotic, fascinating, and bemusing journey to create a successful international business that aspired to do a bit of good in the world. This book is at once a penetrating business memoir and a story about imagining globalism done right. Wallace's picaresque journey takes him to Ghana's residence for the head of state, to the Amsterdam offices of a secretive international cocoa conglomerate, and face-to-face with key figures in the sharp-elbowed world of global trade and geopolitics. Along the way he'll be forced to deal with bureaucratic roadblocks, a legacy of colonialism, corporate intrigue, inscrutable international politics, a Bond-esque villain nemesis, and constant uncertainty about whether he'll actually pull it off. This rollicking love letter to both Ghana and the world of business is a rare glimpse into the mind of an unusually literate and articulate entrepreneur.
Editorial Reviews
"A solid primer on how to build a business with all the added obstacles of working in a developing nation, this story of the Omanhene Coco Bean Company contains plenty of bitter along with the sweet."
-Booklist
"Frequently funny and always informative."
—John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
"We live in an interconnected world where every business--from your neighborhood coffee house to a multinational aircraft manufacturer--is affected by global trade. Wallace makes the case that a New Globalism, based on seeking true comparative advantage, can lead to wealth generation and sustainable employment for everyone. The Omanhene story teaches us that, rather than be scared by globalization, we should embrace it and benefit from it. This is an entrepreneurial story that needs to be told--and it's delicious, too."
—Peter M. Robinson, President and CEO, United States Council for International Business.
"Steve Wallace's highly personalized obroni story begins with a teenage experience in West Africa that forged bonds strong enough to overcome excessive red tape, a secretive and opaque commodities market, and even dangerous intrigue. This captivating account will both inspire young social marketeer entrepreneurs and reveal a fascinating 'public-private' model for creating prosperity in the developing world."
-J. Brian Atwood, former administrator of USAID
Amazon Readers Reviews
Wallace is a master storyteller
Steve Wallace writing is concise, crisp, readable, and informative. He has a gift for storytelling. I finished his journey from high school exchange student to chocolate manufacturer wanting more. ... It is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit that he was able to succeed despite so many obstacles, but he took it all in stride with his Midwestern sense of humor and humility. Hard to categorize, since it is full of history, personal memoirs, business advice, and homespun philosophy of what is important in life. I enjoyed it immensely.
A laugh-out-loud story
I have lived and traveled in the third world and appreciated his ability to battle the bureaucracy with cultural sensitivity. But his wry treatment of his experience had me laughing out loud in every chapter. I am a fussy reader and only finish about half the books I start. This entrepreneurial tale was definitely riveting from start to finish.
Kids' Books
Grandma Comes to Stay
By Ifeoma Onyefulu
Series: First Experiences
Format: Paperback, 32 pp.; col ill.
ISBN: 978-1-84780-251-4
Age Range: 7-8 years
Publisher: London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2015
Summary:
In this book set in Ghana, Stephanie is getting everything ready because Grandma is coming to stay. Grandma shows Stephanie how to wear traditional dress, reads her favorite book, and takes her to see real-life dancers at a festival. In return, Stephanie shows Grandma how to kick a ball, ride a bike, and play the drum.
First Experiences is an exciting new series portraying young children’s very first experience of nursery school, time with grandparents and other events.
About the author:
Ifeoma Onyefulu was brought up in a traditional village in Eastern Nigeria. Her highly acclaimed children’s books are renowned for countering negative images of Africa by celebrating both its traditional village life and its urban life. Ifeoma has twice won the Children’s Africana Book Award: Best Book for Young Children in the USA. SHE lives in London with her two sons. For more about Ifeoma’s books: .
Reader Comments
An absolute treasure. Rather than being a book about Africa, Ghana, or teaching diversity it is a book that depicts the relatively mundane everyday experiences of a young Ghanaian girl. There are no trite ceremonial traditional garments, no summary descriptions of religion or culture, just a little girl and her grandmother. The differences between my son’s life in the US and Stephanie’s life are subtle. The apartment and things look a little different. Grandma wears more traditional clothes and shows her how to put them on (the children and adults her parents age, for the most part, wear western style clothing). You very much get the sense of a grandmother passing on the family tradition and lore.
This is the first book that I’ve found that depicts Ghana, or Africa in general, in a true-to-life way. Not romanticized, glamorized, or made exceedingly foreign or exotic.
This is a fantastic book. … so universal and sweet. It’s a lovely book about a little three-year-old preparing for her grandma’s visit and the visit itself. The pictures are wonderful and the text is simple, but young kids will absolutely relate. I love love this book.
I’m thrilled that many more kids will get a chance to see a child their own age from a country that they will probably never visit, but whose life is very similar to their own, and also different in interesting ways.
Films
Film: Ghanaian Music–Echoes of the Ancestors
Genre: Short Music Documentary
Director: Caroline Hopkins
Date of Release: 2012
Language: English
Run Time: 26 minutes
Summary: Short music documentary, which explores the traditional music of Ghana, the influence of Western ideologies and the cultural significance of preserving the essential elements of such an ancient practice. The documentary includes live traditional drum/dance performances by the Korye Dance Theater in Cape Coast, as well as a series of interviews from local members of the indigenous community.
Music
Recipes
Ghana 2021
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin-Madison is a public charity registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. Its EIN is 39-1669348. It is also an affiliate group of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA).
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