Ghana
Ghana
Ghana offers a soft landing for students with no previous experience of Africa. As a country it is relatively well functioning and a very comfortable place to study. Since our first semester in Cape Coast in 2009, we have seen how Ghana has grown on our students. The country´s international history makes it a natural hub for environmental and development studies in a global perspective.
Cape Coast
Cape Coast is known as the city of knowledge. This is where Ghana's first school was founded and you can find one of the country´s largest universities; University of Cape Coast with its´ 35 000 students. The city itself is relatively small counting a few hundred thousand inhabitants. The city centre is manageable by foot and sits clustered around an axis between the market and Cape Coast Castle. The same castle that was once the last sight many Africans had of the continent before they were taken to America and sold off as slaves. Today it functions as library and museum and also offers a breathtaking view of the ocean, beach and city.
The study center
Most classes are held at the university campus. We also have access ot study facilities at Brenu Beach, a 40 minutes drive along the coast from Cape Coast. Instead of lecture halls and seminar rooms, you will find open pavilions airconditioned by the ocean breeze.
Accommodation
The programme fee includes accommodation, and breakfast all school days. The Ghanaian food is tasty, inspired by both old and new trade routes.
The student houses are centrally located. The students share on suite bedrooms, with two or three other students, communal kitchen, living room, study areas, balcony and a large covered patio. This outdoor space is frequently used for studies and group work, meetings, dining, film screenings and parties in the weekends.
Picture galleries
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Travel in Ghana
Many students take the opportunity to explore the region before and after the study period. The studies and life in Cape Coast will be the natural focus during the semester, but there will be opportunities for short weekend trips. Our collection of travel stories from previous students might awake the explorer in you.
Get to know Ghana
Living in Cape Coast gives you the opportunity to get to know Ghana first-hand through the local population and fellow Ghanaian students. In addition, Kulturstudier offers many activities that allow you to learn about Ghana:
- Introductory week with lectures on history, society and culture
- Guest lectures by local resource persons
- field trips, e.g. to local volunteer organisations and businesses
- social meeting places
- film nights
- Ghana Day
- Quiz nights
- concerts
- sports
- and much more
There are also evening classes available, which are often introductions to languages, cooking, dancing, drumming, etc.
Culture and history
As the first country in sub Saharan Africa, Ghana could celebrate its independency in 1957. Throughout the continent, Ghana became a symbol for the independent and free Africa, and played a significant part in the liberation of other European colonies. This fact has left deep traces in the Ghanaian self-understanding and contributed to shape their self-respect and national consciousness.
Climate
The climate in Cape Coast is tropic. During the spring semester temperatures will rise steadily from comfortable to really hot, with little rain. The autumn semester offers comfortable warmth, but a more humid climate and occasional rain. Sometimes the monsoon coincides with the semester bringing days of hard rain. Click on the link below to see average temperature and yearly rainfall.
Intense academic experience
— The variety in cultural and educational backgrounds amongst the students made it even more exciting to study in a foreign country. I have never experienced such intense debates in any Norwegian classroom, says Karsten. Feel free to ask Karsten about his academic and cultural experiences in Cape Coast; karstenkt@hotmail.com.
Travel
You arrange your flights yourself. But we recommend that you buy flexible tickets. Plans often change when you make new friends. Many students decide to combine their studies with travelling before or after their study period. Our travel agent can organise joint departures for those who wish to travel with fellow students. If you have registered for a course you will receive more information on this in due time. You should not buy tickets before you receive a go ahead for this from Kulturstudier.
Financing
With Kulturstudier you can study in Ghana, with fully transferable credits (ECTS - European Credit Transfer System), which will qualify for financing from many European state educational loan funds.
In addition to the programme fee (that includes accommodation) you will need at least 3000 Euro for travel, books, pocket money and other expenses.
Courses in Ghana
Facts on Ghana
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Area:
238,533 km².
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Population:
33,846,114 (2023 est.)
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Capital:
Accra
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Ethnic groups:
Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)
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Religion:
Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
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Language:
English is the official language, but there are also numerous local languages, the most widespread being Asante 16%, Ewe 14% and Fante 11.6%
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GDP in USD:
$5,400 (2021 est.)
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Currency:
Cedi (GHS). 1 GHS = 0.084 USD (January 2024)
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Climate:
tropical. Hot and dry on the southeast coast, hot a humid in southwest, hot and dry in the north.
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Life expectancy:
69.7 years (2023 est.)
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Literacy:
79 % (2018)
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Population below poverty line:
23.4% (2016 est.)
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Time zone:
Same as London, UK
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Source:
CIA factbook
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