Ghana Facts

Hello! Since English is Ghana’s official language, that’s how many will greet you if you visit. However, did you know that there are over 80 languages spoken throughout the country? Learn more interesting facts about Ghana here.

five Facts About Ghana

Here are five fun facts about Ghana:

Ghana is one of the world’s largest producers of cocoa. Ghana and neighboring Côte d’Ivoire produce over half of the world’s cocoa supply.
Ghana is home to Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world that covers over 3,000 miles.
In 1957, Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence.
The country has its own space program, the Ghana Space Agency (GSA).
If you visit Ghana, you might enjoy fufu, a popular dish that consists of a starchy dough made from boiled and pounded cassava or plantain.

Where is Ghana?

Ghana is located in West Africa and on the Gulf of Guinea. The country shares borders with Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.

Key Challenges in Ghana & Our Response

Ghana is known as the “golden child” of Africa and features a vibrant and unique culture. However, it’s also a place many impoverished children and families call home. These children suffer the damaging consequences of poverty.

Abuse, Trafficking & Violence Put Children at Risk

Child abuse and trafficking are consistent threats throughout many countries like Ghana. Close to 90% of children regularly experience violent discipline. Thousands of children are exploited through hazardous work in the cocoa industry. And thousands of children are living — and sometimes working — on the streets.

Our Response: Protecting Children Through Intervention & Training

Compassion prioritizes the protection of the children we serve. We train our staff and volunteers to see and respond to the warning signs of abuse and violence, ensuring they know how to intervene quickly.

We also train parents on their children’s rights and teach children to use their voices to stand up for themselves and others.

Malnutrition & Lack of Medical Care Threaten Children

Throughout Africa, the lack of proper nutrition, vitamins and medical care for moms threaten babies from the womb. In fact, recent data shows that sub-Saharan Africa has the highest infant mortality rate in the world at 27 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Our Response: Providing Medical Care & Nutrition Support to Moms & Babies

Compassion partners with local churches to care for mothers and babies through our Survival programs. These programs offer expecting moms access to critical health services and support like vitamins, nutrition support and checkups.

Our Survival programs also cover the cost of delivery and provide emotional support for families as they go through childbirth. This support continues throughout a child’s first year of life, ensuring they have what they need to thrive from the start.

A young boy stands next to a wooden boat with the ocean behind him.

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Young children take a break from playing to pose for a picture.

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A boy smiles wlaking through school with a backpack on

A boy wearing a backpack walks outside classrooms.

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A girl and her mother smile as they reach for a coconut.

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A group of children are ready to enjoy a special Christmas meal.

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An older boy tosses a soccer ball into the air.

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Two smiling girls play a game while holding a rope.

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Children sit in a classroom and listen to their teacher.

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A child smiles in a birght orange outfit

A smiling boy wears a brightly colored shirt and necklace.

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A smiling girl wears a backpack while walking down a dirt road.

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Our Impact in Ghana

Compassion has been working in Ghana for nearly two decades. Throughout this time, we’ve helped release thousands of children from poverty through child sponsorship.

96,678

children served (and counting)

412

churches serving

18

years of serving

One Gift Changed This Ghanian Family’s Life

When Joseph’s carpentry business stalled and his wife suffered health issues, he feared he wouldn’t be able to feed his family. But one gift from his daughter’s sponsor changed everything.

See Story

Sponsor Letters Inspire Children to Achieve Their Dreams

Children all around the world, including in Ghana, receive messages from their sponsors that inspire them to dream big. See what these children have to say about the encouragement they’ve received.

See Story

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in Ghana

You can join Compassion’s fight against child poverty in Ghana in three key ways:

Pray: Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift children living in poverty up in prayer, God hears us, and we can trust he's working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.
Donate: Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.
Sponsor a Child: By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to meet the critical needs of a child's body, mind and spirit as they journey out of poverty. Through sponsorship, you'll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need. But most importantly, you'll help introduce them to the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.

Sponsor a Child in Ghana