National Day of Ghana

MANILA, Philippines – This Sunday is the National Day of Ghana. One of the most important holidays in Ghana, National Day is celebrated with great festive spirit characterized by street dancing and spectacular fireworks.

Located in West Africa, Ghana is bordered to the west by Cote d’ Ivoire, to the north by Burkina Faso, to the east by Togo, and to the south by the Gulf of Guinea. The term Ghana which literally means “Warrior King” is from the Ghana Empire.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, European powers were drawn to Ghana’s gold resources. The Portuguese called the country Elmina, which literally mines the “mine” while the British referred to it as the Golden Coast. To this day, gold mining contributes significantly to government revenue. Ghana achieved independence from Britain in 1957, making it the first sub-Saharan nation to do so.

Compared to its West African neighbors, Ghana has a much stronger economy, with almost double the per-capita output of the poorer countries in the region. Well-endowed with natural resources, Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world and is home to Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world. Tourism provides an increasing portion of national revenue due to the country’s low crime rate, widespread use of the English language, and economic stability. Majority of tourists are Europeans and Americans visiting Ghana’s United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage sites and national parks.

We congratulate the people and government of Ghana led by H.E., President John Evans Atta Mills, and its Consulate in the Philippines headed by Consul Ramon Z. Abad, on the occasion of it s National Day.

We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors.