Holidays book, the Bible. The Christian symbol—the cross— reminds the faithful that Jesus died for them, for the GHANA Holidays are very important to your sponsored child forgiveness of their sins. Christian holidays include and family. The most important ones have religious or Christmas (December 25), which celebrates the birth of political significance: Jesus; Good Friday (March/April), which commemorates January 1 the death of Jesus on the cross; and Easter (March/ New Year’s Day April), the most holy of Christian sacred days, which March 6 celebrates the resurrection of Jesus on the third day Independence Day after his death. March/April* Easter Muslims are followers of Islam. Islam is an Arabic word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” May 25 Africa Day Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago July 1 Republic Day and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran (Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of December 25 sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide Christmas a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, *date varies including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. Population 25 million Islam is a religion of peace and prayerfulness. A devout Capital City Accra Religion in Ghana Muslim prays five times daily. If possible, Muslims pray in a mosque, and on Friday do so with common prayer Official Language English Roughly 70 percent of Ghanaians are Christian and 15 and a sermon. Islam also requires that Muslims make Per Capita Income US$1,550/year percent are Muslim. The remaining 15 percent follow a pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca other faiths or have no religious affiliation. at least once in their lifetime. Islamic holidays include Youth Literacy Rate 88% male/83% female Christians are followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, Access to Safe Water 92% urban/80% rural which commemorates the month in which Muhammad Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Under 5 Mortality Rate 72/1,000 live births Christians believe that Jesus is the only son of God, born received the revelations that became the Koran. Eid al-Fitr is a joyous feast celebrating the end of Ramadan of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) story is told in the New Testament of the Christian holy and the month of fasting. Al-Hijra celebrates the Islamic New Year. Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. Ghana is situated along the coast of West Africa. It is bounded in the north by Burkina Faso, in the east by Togo, in the west by the Ivory Coast, and in the south by the Atlantic Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to Ocean. The highest mountain in the country, Mount Afadjato, is found in the Volta end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our Region, in the east of the country. Temperatures are generally high, with annual averages level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to ranging from 79ºF at places near the coast to 84ºF in the extreme north. The warmest come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. months are February and March, while the coolest is August. A single rainy season occurs in the north and two distinct seasons in the south. The major one occurs between March Promising Futures, Plan International USA Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 and July, reaching its peak in May or June, while the minor one peaks in September and 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org continues through November. A Brief History Better health Ghanaians trace their historically rich ancestry from Plan focuses on childhood-survival activities such as migrating peoples who settled in the region in the ensuring that all children under age 5 are vaccinated 1200s. Despite ethnic clashes, the people of the various against major life-threatening diseases as well as groups co-existed peacefully. In the 1450s, Europeans training parents on reducing the risk of malaria to their began to arrive. The Portuguese were the first to infants. significantly trade in the region they called “The Gold Coast.” In 1482, they built a fort at Elmina, despite Food security the protests of the area chief. In the 1800s, the British acquired control of the fort. They outlawed slavery, This program provides farmers in rural communities collected customs, and defeated the Ashanti people with high-yielding seed varieties and facilitates year- in the Segranti War of 1874. Thereafter, the Gold round access to water to ensure good, regular harvests. Coast became Britain’s most valuable colonial asset in difficulty growing enough food to feed themselves Friday Afua/Afia ofi/K Fifi Africa due to its mineral, cocoa, and timber resources. Creating awareness of child rights because of low agricultural productivity, unpredictable Saturday Ama Kwame/Ato Throughout the following years, an extensive struggle rains, and insufficient food storage and distribution This practice is common among the Akan, Nzema, and Plan promotes children’s rights and issues affecting for independence evolved, which culminated on March systems. Ewe. Most Ghanaian names have meaning and are given children through media programs, children’s clubs, and 6, 1957, when the Gold Coast became one of the first for a special reason. government advocacy. One particular area of focus is British colonies in Africa to proclaim its independence. our Universal Birth Registration campaign, which seeks Family Structure The country was quickly named the West African to ensure that all children are given official identities so Language Empire of Ghana. Since this time the government has Ghanaians rely on extended families, which include that they can access their rights to social services, such been subject to several coups and military regimes. In grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Patrilineal Although English is the official language in Ghana, most as health care and education, and be protected against 1993, a newly elected president was sworn into office inheritance and polygamy are widespread among most sponsored children speak Akan, a local language. It is child labor and trafficking. by the general public with democratically held elections. ethnic groups in Ghana. However, with one of the few very likely that you will encounter a language barrier societies in West Africa that is matrilineal, the Akan in communicating with your sponsored child, as the Diet and Nutrition people are unique. They are also the largest ethnic majority of the children do not know enough English to Plan’s work in Ghana covers four core group in Ghana and are comprised of many distinct write a letter. Those who do not know English will be One of Ghana’s traditional dishes is fufu, a mixture of areas: but related groups. Within the rich and diverse cultural assigned to community workers or volunteers who will boiled cassava roots and plantains that are beaten into Quality education tapestry, ethnic rivalries in Ghana are virtually absent. explain your letters and help the children compose their a thick mash. This dish is served with a stew called tuo Better health Intermarriage between Ghanaians from different ethnic responses. zavi, which is made of corn and millet and is served as Food security groups is also common. the main meal. Here are a few phrases in Akan that you might want Creating awareness of child rights to use in your correspondence with your sponsored Naming Tradition Quality education Economic Security child: Ghanaians are very particular about naming customs. Woho tesen? Agriculture and cattle-rearing are the main subsistence How are you? This program focuses on encouraging community The day a child is born is very important. These are activities of most Ghanaian families. In the cash participation in children’s learning. We help provide names given to children born on specific days: W’awofo ho tesen? economy, cocoa, coconuts, palm oil, and mineral exports How is your family? child-friendly environments and infrastructure for Sunday Akwoa/Esi Kwasi (Female/Male) are the main sources of foreign exchange. Because of effective teaching and learning to take place. In Monday Adwoa/Adjp Kwadwo Meda w’ase its dependence on agricultural exports and the resulting addition, we provide scholarships to needy children, Tuesday Abena/Araba Kwabena/Ebo Thank you scarcity of small holdings of farmland, Ghana’s struggle enabling them to fulfill their full academic potential Wednesday Akua/Ekua Kwaku/Abeku Maake toward self-sufficiency in food continues. Families have when money is a barrier. Thursday Yaa/Aba Yaw/Kwao Good morning.