The Sankofa Brief
Colourful fishing canoes pulled up on a Ghanaian beach at golden hour

The Sankofa Brief

Ghana, explained from the ground up

Our history, our economy and the news that matters each week, told simply and checked against named sources. Whether you are a student, a professional or a visitor, start here.

Ghana in 60 seconds

The basics everyone should know

Capital
Accra
Independence
6 March 1957
Population
30.8 million 2
Area
238,533 sq km 1
Regions
16 3
Currency
Ghana cedi (GH¢)
Official language
English 1
Highest point
Mount Afadjato, 885 m 1

Population is from the 2021 census. Six of the 16 regions were created after referendums held in December 2018.3 Our neighbours are Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east.1 For the full picture, read Land, People and Languages.

Read now

Start with one of these

A busy open-air market in Accra

History

From the name we borrowed from an ancient empire, through the Gold Coast, the Asante and independence, to the Fourth Republic. Every era in plain language.

Read the history →

 Ripe cocoa pods on a tree

Economy

How Ghana earns its money, what we sell and buy, and how we came back from the debt crisis. With the numbers explained.

Read the economy →

This Week in Ghana

1 to 7 November 2026: the IMF review, inflation at 5.5%, the BRICS bid, speed cameras and the new health form for arrivals. New every Sunday afternoon.

Read this week →
How we work

Every page opens with the bottom line, so you get the point first. Technical terms are explained in "In plain terms" boxes. Every fact is checked against a named source listed at the foot of the page, and each page shows when it was last verified.

Coming next

More of Ghana, coming soon

Markets and tradeWhere business happens
TourismForts, parks and festivals
CultureKente, food, music and faith
TriviaFacts to win any quiz

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Ghana
  2. Ghana Statistical Service, 2021 Population and Housing Census
  3. Journal of Modern African Studies, Explaining region creation conflicts in Ghana
  4. Wikipedia, Sankofa
  5. Adinkra Symbols, Sankofa: meaning, history and images
  6. Brooklyn Museum, Gold Weight in Form of Sankofa Bird (45.11.5)

Last verified: 7 November 2026.