Glossary -- Ghana

Abusua

The family in Akan society

Adae

Akan sacred day. According to the traditional lunar calendar, an Adae day occurs every fortnight.

Asafo

Traditional Akan men's association and originally fighting companies.

Asante/Ashanti/Ashantee

Akan group, geographically located to the central part of the country. Founders of the Asante Empire, and speakers of Asante-Twi language.

Asantehene

King of Asante.

Bosomtwi (Lake)

The only natural lake in Ghana. It is located about 32 km to the south-east of Kumase, the Asante capital.

CHW

Community Health Worker.

Consultative Assembly

A body elected by various organizations in 1991/92 to debate the constitutional proposals drawn out by a government-appointed Committee of Experts. The document agree upon by the Consultative Assembly was accepted in May of 1992 as the constitution for the Fourth Republic to be elected to power later in 1992/93.

CPP.

Convention People's Party (was in power from 1957-1966).

Global 2000

An organization founded and chaired by Mr. Jimmy Carter (former President of the United States) to aid Third World farmers with improved seedlings, financial assistance, and extension services. The goal was to create agricultural self-sufficiency in the selected countries. Ghana became a Global 2000 member in the mid- 1980s.

Homowo

Ga annual homecoming festival.

IMF.

International Monetary Fund.

JSS.

Junior Secondary School.

NCWD.

National Council on Women and Development.

NUGS.

National Union of Ghana Students.

Odwira

Annual Akan festival for the propitiation of the ancestors.

Ramadan

Muslim month of fasting.

SRC.

Students Representative Council (equal to SGAs in the United States).

SSS.

Senior Secondary School.

Tariqa

Muslim brotherhood.

TBA.

Traditional Birth Attendant.

Tendaana

Mole-Dagbane Earth cult and shrine.

TUC.

Trade Union Congress.

UNESCO

United Nations Education, Science, and Cultural Organization.

UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund.

VHW.

Village Health Worker.

WHO.

World Health Organization (United Nations)

NOTE: The information regarding Ghana on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Ghana Glossary information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Ghana Glossary should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.