Ghana Host Community

The inland Akrade and South Senchi communities host Global Volunteer's programs in Ghana. The small, agrarian villages are economically impoverished, but spiritually rich, and home to resourceful, resiliant people. When the Akosombo Dam was built in 1960 to provide hydroelectric power to all of Ghana, the Volta River basin was flooded, creating Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world at 520 kilometers (325 mi.). The lake generates electricity, provides inland transportation, and is a potentially valuable resource for irrigation and fish farming. However, the flooding of the Volta River Basin resulted in the displacement of 80,000 people. The families we serve were forced to relocate, and lost their ancestral homeland, sustainable farms, family income and livelihood.

GHANAIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY
Before the 13th century, the Akan peoples migrated from other parts of Africa into the forest belt of present-day Ghana. Family bands established small states in the hilly country. Today, the Ashanti tribe is the largest tribe in Ghana, and one of the few matrilineal societies in West Africa, noted for their expertise in a variety of specialized crafts, notably weaving, wood carving, ceramics, the reknown kente cloth and metallurgy. Some 52 major languages and hundreds of dialects are spoken in Ghana, although English is the dominant language. Many adult Ghanaians speak several languages and dialects, demonstrating great linguistic skill.

The village is a social and cultural unit, with music a large part of everyday life. Three main types of music are enjoyed in our host villages are ethnic or traditional music, normally played during festivals and at funerals; "highlife" music, which is a blend of traditional and "imported" music; and choral music, which is performed in concert halls, churches, schools and colleges. All community members, young and old, participate in the major ceremonies, the most frequent of which are funeral celebrations, typically lasting several days. Attendance at funerals is normally expected from everyone in the village and expenditure on funerals is a substantial part of the household budget. If a funeral is conducted while you're on a service program, you'll be invited -- and expected -- to attend as an honorable community member. Read more about Ghanaian daily life and customs.