Since gaining independence in 1957 Ghana has become a peaceful and prosperous nation with a thriving economy.

Much of Ghana’s success can be attributed to its people, who are famously friendly and welcoming. They are well known for their brightly coloured clothes, keen wit and relentless optimism.

As you walk down the street you may hear friendly cries of ‘siliminga’ (pronounced ‘silly minger’), the word for ‘foreign person’ in the local language of Dagbani. However while there are more than 60 indigenous languages in Ghana, the official language is English, which is widely spoken.

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Our programme is based in Tamale, the capital city of Ghana’s Northern Region. We think this quote from the Lonely Planet guide to West Africa beautifully sums up our hometown:

“One thing is certain, if the Northern Region is Ghana’s breadbasket, Tamale is its kitchen. If you can take the heat you’ll discover a town with good food, charm and a whole lot of soul.”

Although Tamale is Ghana’s third largest city by population it is actually a group of villages that have slowly grown together to form a town. Because of this Tamale boasts the amenities of a big city but doesn’t feel like one. Traditional clay huts stand near modern buildings, people don’t have to live on top of each other and everything feels a little bit more relaxed.

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