Welcome to the best website for information about Peace Corps Ghana! If you’re thinking about volunteering in Ghana, you found the right place. We’ll tell you about the history of Peace Corps in Ghana. We’ll also explore Ghana as a country. You can learn the languages spoken there. You can also read about other volunteers’ experiences. Here you can find info on safety and health too. We’ll also share how to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who were in Ghana. Get ready to learn more to help decide if volunteering in Ghana is good for you.
Volunteers in The Gambia working with their communities on locally prioritized projects in Agriculture & Health (leave in January), and Education (leave in May).
What is the History of Peace Corps Ghana?
Since 1961, the Peace Corps has sent volunteers to Ghana in Western Africa. Ghana was one of the very first countries to welcome Peace Corps volunteers. For over 60 years now, volunteers have worked hand-in-hand with local communities there.
To date, more than 4,800+ Peace Corps volunteers have served across Ghana. The volunteers have supported projects in education, health care, farming, and the environment. For example, many volunteers have taught Math, English, Science and vocational skills. They have trained teachers and helped improve curriculum. Volunteers have also built clean water systems and educate about diseases like malaria. Some have helped protect the environment and teach communities to do sustainable farming.
Volunteers help Ghanaians develop the skills they need to build strong communities. The volunteers learn a lot too. They bring home a deeper understanding of Ghana’s rich history and culture. Many volunteers say their time in Ghana was life-changing. They form lasting friendships and learn as much as they teach.
What about Ghana as a nation?
Ghana is a country in West Africa located along the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of around 31 million people and a democratic government. In 1957, Ghana became the first country south of the Sahara Desert to gain independence from the United Kingdom.
Ghana has a diverse landscape of low plains, forests, hills, rivers, lakes, and coastline. It is abundant in natural resources like minerals, timber, diamonds, manganese, and rubber. Key exports are gold, cocoa beans, timber, tuna fish, bauxite, aluminum and manganese.
Ghana has one of the faster growing economies in the Africa region. It has well-developed mining, logging and farming industries. But, many Ghanaians still rely on basic subsistence agriculture to live. Major industries today also include lumber, manufacturing, fishing, aluminum, tourism and the petroleum.
The culture in Ghana reflects its great ethnic, linguistic and geographic diversity. Traditional culture centers around family groups and tribes. Music and dance play integral roles in Ghanaian daily life. Drum rhythms and beats central to its vibrant musical traditions.
Ghana is a culturally-rich country in Africa with an inspiring history. It has huge economic potential thanks to its natural resources and hardworking population. The landscape is beautiful and the proud people carry the torch of independence.
What languages do they speak in Ghana?
The main language spoken in Ghana is English. And it is the official language used in schools, government and business. But, many Ghanaians also speak local or regional languages as their first languages.
The most common local languages in Ghana are:
- Akan – spoken by over 40% of people as their first language and has two main dialects: Twi and Fante.
- Mole-Dagbani – spoken by over 15% of Ghanaians. It has dialects like Dagbanli, Mampruli and Gonja.
- Ewe – spoken by around 12% of people as their first tongue.
- Ga – the indigenous language originally from Accra area, spoken by over 7% of people.
There are also some smaller local languages that are only spoken in certain regions. Even though English is the official language, most Ghanaians speak at least one local language plus English. So while school and business in English, Ghana has many regional languages. This variety is part of Ghana’s cultural heritage.
During their service, volunteers in Ghana learn to speak local languages, including Dagaari, Dagbani, Ewe, Ghanaian Sign Language, Mampruli, Gurune, and Twi.
How safe is it serve in Peace Corps Ghana?
In general, 91% of volunteers felt safe or very safe where they lived in Ghana. And 95% felt safe or very safe where they worked. 17% of volunteers early terminated mostly due to reasons beyond their control or due to medical. But more detailed information about safety compared to other Peace Corps countries can be found in the Ghana Country Crime Profile.
Most of the medical problems seen in Ghana are also found in the United States. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Ghana because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses.
The medical problems specific to Ghana are:
- typhoid
- Hepatitis A and B
- polio
- yellow fever
- cholera,
- meningitis
- rabies
- diarrhea
- skin infections
- dental problems
- headaches
- respiratory infections
- minor injuries
- amoebic dysentery
- HIV/AIDS
- STIs.
Health problems also can result from local environmental factors, such as dust, humidity, insects, and disease-producing microorganisms. Because malaria is endemic in Ghana, Volunteers are required to take anti-malarial medication.
But more detailed information about health related issues at Peace Corps Ghana can be found in the Ghana Health and Medical Care Summary.
What do volunteers think of serving in Ghana?
Since 1975, the Annual Volunteer Survey has been a source of information on the state of the Peace Corps (PC) program for the agency, Congress, researchers, the media, and the general public. In 2019, 88% of volunteers found their overall Peace Corps service rewarding or very rewarding. 88% of volunteers would still make the same decision to serve with the Peace Corps today. 82% of volunteers would recommend Peace Corps service to others. More information can be found in the Ghana Annual Volunteer Survey Satisfaction Results.
Where can I learn more about Peace Corps Ghana volunteer experiences?
PCV blogs and YouTube channels offer a unique look into the daily life of volunteers serving in Ghana. These blogs and channels can help you understand the challenges and triumphs that come with being a volunteer. Explore these links for inspiring stories and practical advice from current and past volunteers.
- Dylan (2019-20, 23-25) Education
- Nathan (2023-25) Education
- Andy (2023-25) Education
- Catriona (2018-2020) Health
- Molly (2017-19) Health
- Dara (2015-17) Education
How can I connect with Returned PCVs who served in Ghana?
And where can I find official information about Peace Corps Ghana?
- PeaceCorps.gov/Ghana
- Projects in Ghana
- Stories from Ghana
- Preparing to Volunteer
- Living Conditions
- Training
- Health
- Safety and Security
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Packing Guidance
This is an old PC publication called “The Peace Corps Welcomes You to Ghana“, published in 2013. In the past, before the internet, this is how volunteers learned more about Ghana. Even though it is many years old, there is still a lot of good information there. You can download it here but remember it is just for informational purposes. For up-to-date information, always check with you Peace Corps contacts and staff.
Conclusion:
This blog post gave you lots of useful information to help decide if Ghana is a good place for you to volunteer. You learned about Guyanese culture, languages, and development. We discussed important safety and health considerations for volunteers too. Also, we provided ways to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Ghana. To get more information about Peace Corps Ghana, visit their website or explore the resources provided here. We hope this post has aided your search for information about volunteering with Peace Corps in Ghana!
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Ghana Government.
