Customs and Cultural Norms You Should Know (Stop Being Offensive in Ghana) Ghana Culture and Tips

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Expat Life Ghana

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Customs and Cultural Norms You Should Know (Stop Being Offensive in Ghana) Ghana Culture and Tips


In this video, we explore the customs and cultural norms of Ghana, and provide tips on how to avoid being offensive while traveling or interacting with locals. From traditional greetings and dress codes to local etiquette and taboos, we will give you the tips you need. So, join us on this cultural journey, and learn how to stop being offensive…

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22 Comments

  1. I'm a Ghanian raised in Ghana but went to Liverpool for further education. Whilst there the people taught I speak posh because I spoke the Ghanian English accent. My sister who was born in the UK and raised in Hertfordshire came to visit me in Liverpool and I became the translator between her and the locals.
    Since back in Ghana, I once some Indias who wanted directions but we could not understand each other because of our differences in accent. Even those in UK can't understand each other what about the rest of us.
    Always slow down, pick your word one by one and don't think your accent is superior. Mistake most English speaking foreigner do.

  2. Hi Tony and Ayo

    My favourite YouTubers.šŸ˜Šā¤

    Just to add what has already been said here, as Ghana is a former British colony, the English language and even the legal system are all based on British English and the British legal system.

    Therefore, it is not necessarily because English is the second language in Ghana, but the words or pronouncuation sometimes differ, between American English and British English. Even when Americans sometimes ask for the bathroom, here in the UK, some Brits, not used to speaking to Americans, can look a bit perplexed.

    Bath/Washroom -Toilet, ladies or gents
    Elevator – Lift
    Data – Data pronounced 'Dayta'
    Cookies – Biscuits
    Soda /Pop – Soft Drinks, Coke, Fanta, Sprite, etc, etc.
    Sidewalk – pavement

    I have actually been in the process of setting up a guide on my channel when I watched this great video, so I found it very interesting.

    Keep up the good work. šŸ˜Š

  3. Greeting is EXTREMELY important. Even if you are unaware or overwhelmed by cultural customs, people will generally be understanding, and assume you have good intentions if you are known to greet people.

  4. I am an American married to a Ghanaian, one of the biggest shocks for me was one year we purchased gifts for my mother and sister in law and nieces,I wrapped them all up to look so beautiful and put them inside a box and shipped it to them for Christmas gifts. but when my sister in law went to pick up the package they made her unwrap all of the gifts in front of them. This was so upsetting to me. ( you know those gifts went threw so many X-rays and scanners). and to make her do that and now my baby nieces could not unwrap their gifts broke my heart.

  5. I can certainly relate to the data pronunciation. I prefer the softer a sound and pronounce it that way such a seemingly small distinction can cause confusion for some Ghanaians. There are other words or terms too, such as how you say water with er sound and they say it like wata. Or if you say elevator, some wonā€™t know what you mean because they call it a lift. Or, if I ask or tell my taxi driver to pull over, he will not know that I want him to essentially park the car, usually for a brief moment for whatever reason. They also refer to plastic bags as rubber bags, or just rubbers.
    Itā€™s best to be patient, and adjust to the way they speak, as you are in their country.