A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated tropical coral islands Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys and three rock islets A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse
Because Ghana was colonized by the British, English has become the official language, and many Ghanians particularly in urban centres you'll meet will be able to speak English Official government documents are kept in English, but there over 40 distinct languages spoken in Ghana including English, Twi, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani, and so on "Obruni", the Akan word for foreigner literally means "white man", is generally shouted to greet any tourist in an unoffensive way sometimes Obruni is used in a similar way as the word "Toubab" is used further west in Mali, Guinea, the Gambia and Senegal
Pidgin English is about the most typical form of English you will find With phrases like: "my head de bash", meaning "I have a headache"
In the Northern Regions and among Ghanaian Muslims in general, the Hausa language is used as a lingua franca
Tarifa beach is the best place to go for surfing and bodyboarding
There is no economic activity in the Gloriosos Islands
Food is extremely cheap in Ghana Traditional food is fun to try and easy to enjoy Fufu, the most widely served traditional dish, consists of pounded balls of yam, plantain, or cassava served with soup, and a side of goat meat or fish Soups are typically made of groundnuts, palm nut, okra and other vegetables Banku is a fermented corn version of the dish typically eaten with grilled tilapia fish or okra soup
Rice dishes are also typical, but not considered a "real" meal by many Ghanaians, males especially Jollof rice is a dish as varied as its chef, but generally consists of white rice cooked with vegetables, meat pieces, spices in a tomato based sauce Waakye is a mix of beans and rice, typically served with gari, a powder of ground cassava Often rice dishes are served with shredded lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes on the side with a dollop of Heinz salad cream or mayonnaise Such meals are extremely cheap from street vendors and come as little as GH₵150 to GH₵250
Plantains, yams, and sweet potatoes are prepared in various ways and serve as small snacks Kelewele, a spiced fried plantain snack, is especially delicious Fresh fruits such as pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut, oranges, and bananas are delightful when in season and come when applicable by the bag for as little as 10 cents
A great African meal in a restaurant can cost as little as GH₵300 to GH₵700 For instance, a lobster and shrimp dinner can cost a mere GH₵6 There are also a number of Western and Chinese style restaurants available especially in Osu, a trendy suburb of Accra
Drinking water from the tap is not generally considered to be safe, so choices include plastic bottled water eg Voltic, 15l appx GHC 100, boiled or filtered tap water, and "pure water" sachets These sachets are filtered and come in 500 ml portions Many foreigners prefer bottled water Water in sealed plastic sachets is generally not considered safe Athough easily accessible and an unique experience, small studies have shown varying amounts of fecal bacteria suggestive the source may be tap water If you want to play it safe, stick with carbonated beverages
In Accra's expat visited bars, a beer will cost between GH₵200 and GH₵300 Fruit juices GH₵150, water GH₵100 to GH₵150 Star and Club are two of the more popular beers served For a more interesting and rewarding experience, visit a "spot," a bar signified by the blue and white stripes on the outside of the building They are cheaper and you will undoubtedly be able to meet some local Ghanaians as well as hear the newest hip-life songs
A soft drink such as Coke, Fanta, 7UP called "minerals" by locals are widely available for GH₵050
Be aware that the bottles that minerals or beer is served to you in are owned by the bottling company-if you do not return it to the seller, they stand to lose GH₵050 cedis-more than you most likely paid for the drink If you are not going to consume the drink at the "spot" or at the roadside stand, make sure you let the seller know Often, you will be asked for a deposit which will be returned upon the return of the bottle
There are no public accommodations in the Gloriosos Islands
Volunteer opportunities:
