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Monday 11 January 2010

10 Interesting facts about Ghana

1) It is thought that early migrants from Nigeria settled in the area now known as Ghana around 5, 000 years ago.
2) Over 200 languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana.
3) The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive on Ghana's coast in 1471, as word carried across Europe of West Africa's rich mineral reserves. However, some historians believe it was the French who arrived as early as 1346, but may never have disembarked.
4) Ghana was the first African country to gain colonial independence in 1957.
5) Elmina Castle along Ghana's Southern coast was the first European building to be built in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6) Ghana's rainforests harbour a fragile eco-system, home to over 900 species of butterflies. New species of mammals, reptiles and insects have all recently been discovered within the rainforests.
7)  Pre-independence, Ghana was known as 'The Gold Coast' , this is due to the large gold deposits found there. Gold remains Ghana's largest export.
8) Lake Volta in Ghana's Eastern region is the largest artifical lake in the world.
9 The currency of Ghana is the Ghanaian Cedi (pronounced sid-ee).
10) The Netherlands remain Ghana's biggest importer.