Ten Differences Between Ghanaians and Americans

1. While Americans are likely to keep to themselves, Ghanaians are much more open to making friends in any setting. It is not uncommon for a Ghanaian to offer a friendly “Hello” and a sweet “How are you?” while you are walking down the street or entering a classroom on the first day of class. Some will even want to be friends right away, and may ask you for your phone number!
2. Many traditional Ghanaian dishes tend to be quite spicy. For the first few weeks, I felt the burn (in both my mouth and my stomach) as my taste buds worked to adjust to the strong flavors. Jollof rice, vegetable stew, kelewele, and many more yummy dishes will force you to cry while wanting to keep eating. American burgers and fries are much too bland for the Ghanaian tongue.

   

   

3. Americans are accustomed to the convenience technology provides — whether it be ordering takeout online or using a washing machine. Ghanaians, on the other hand, are experts at cooking, doing laundry by hand, and doing other basic chores manually. Watching a Ghanaian hand wash their clothes is like magic!

4. Ghanaians are accustomed to frequent power outages, water shortages, and inconsistent Internet connection. Unlike Americans, they do not freak out when there is no WiFi, but instead, they keep calm and turn on the backup generators. Also, cold showers are a regular occurrence.
5. Americans may be used to tracking bus schedules to the T, but Ghanaians are skilled at navigating the city by trotro. Trotros are the cheapest and most common form of public transportation. Basically reconfigured vans, they can cram 12 – 18 people, not including the driver and the “mate”. With no predefined timetables, you must wait at a hectic bus stop and strain your ears for the mate yelling out your desired location. Once you get on, you hand the fare to the mate who mentally figures out how much each person owes (based on distance) and how much change is needed. If you get lost, don’t worry because almost any passerby will point you towards the right direction.

6. While American college students may be used to pulling all-nighters, some Ghanaian students wake up at dawn to study or do laundry! You sure can’t afford to be a lazy student in Ghana!

7. Although you may be used to Americans hesitating to even make eye contact with you, Ghanaians are more open to calling out at you or striking up a conversation. If you are a foreigner, chances are that kids will shout at you “Obruni!” or “China!” Obruni is a general term for foreigner or white person, and you can probably guess that I get called China for looking Asian.

8. As a continuation of the previous point, do not be alarmed if a Ghanaian proposes your hand in marriage (even if you two are total strangers). If you are a foreigner, this is common. Sometimes telling them you have a boyfriend/lover back home will not do, so you can either say you’re married, or accept the proposal and prepare for the wedding!
9. Funerals in America tend to be somber occasions, but in Ghana, they’re the largest parties around! Dressed in black and red, Ghanaians celebrate the life of the deceased with food, drinks, music, and dancing. Hundreds of people attend funerals. Some of those invited may not have even known the deceased individual. Even caskets are often brightly colored and carved into shapes that represent the deceased individual by resembling their favorite objects or their profession.

   

10. Americans may be obsessed with strict schedules and punctuality, but here, things sometimes run on “Ghanaian time”. This means that professors may show up to lecture over half an hour late and it is common for appointments to be delayed. The pace of life in Ghana sometimes seems much slower than that of the US, so patience is required in adjusting to these different cultural norms.

Despite these cultural differences, the strong sense of community that Ghanaians cultivate will make you feel like a part of a family. It is the norm to call elders Auntie or Uncle, and people your age may call you Sister or Brother. Embrace the love. So far, it has been challenging for me to navigate through Ghanaian culture, but adjustment is a continual process. I look forward to learning and growing more everyday while I’m here.