Cultural Differences, by Matthew

How does one compare when the social fabric of the country is interwoven with a concussion of contrasting identities? How does one compare when the country was not even a country 113 years ago? Instead, a blend of varying tribes - each with their own distinct roots.  Alas, constrained by space, these quarrels of mine will have to be put to rest in a subsequent blog. Despite my apprehension on tackling this subject of "cultural differences", there are characteristics and values which define each country in question. Growing up in London, a city rich with diversity and bursting with an array of different cultures, there are things which make each person, British - regardless of background. Being in Ghana for 4 weeks, a country which boasts over 100 cultural groups, there are things I have observed which make each person, Ghanaian - regardless of tribe.

One glaring difference is how each country utilises their time. Reiterated by every Ghanaian, and throughout my own experiences, time is somewhat more, how can I put - relaxed. It is not uncommon to wait 1 hour for a plate of potato chips. When setting a specific time for a meeting, specific is, to Ghanaians, between 2-3pm. Being prompt is not a conscious priority, which has transcended into every segment of Ghanaian life, for example, I often finding myself walking considerably faster then my counterparts. On the other hand, British people, and this is especially true for us Londeners, time is rigid. Extreme effort is placed on punctuality. Fuelled by the insatiable desire for opulence, speed equates progress. The famous quote by Geoffrey Chaucer - "time and tide waits for no man" - is taken so literally self destruction as society propels into overdrive is an almost inevitable occurrence. Anyway, back on topic. Adjusting to this way of living which conflicts with my own has been difficult to say the least. For the British, GMT means Greenwich Mean Time, however in Ghana, this abbreviation refers to the propensity of Ghanaians' perception of time - Ghana Man Time, meaning official times are never official, but rather fluctuate. Thus, if an event is set for 10am, you can bet it wont start until noon.

An immediate and engaging cultural difference which every foreigner will observe upon arriving and residing in Ghana is how acutely warm and welcoming the people are. This is not to say us British are not friendly people. But for the British readers, ask yourself this, have you ever had a stranger come up to you and strike up a conversation? British people tend to reserve their compassion for friends and family exclusively.  But in Ghana literally everyone greets one another, expressing genuine interest in the well-being of family members and life in general. Depending on the time of day, the greeting alters. Dasiba for morning, Antire for afternoon and Aninwula for the evening. But it does not stop with a greeting, and I have often had 20 minute conversations with people I had no prior connection with. Whereas in Britain, Modern city-dwellers just do not engage with one another, rather, finding shelter in phones and tablets. In 2013 London was labelled the second most unfriendly city in the world while Ghana was ranked the 11th friendliest country. The contrast is apparent and refreshing.

The final cultural etiquette which will be discussed is the acute emphasis placed on the right hand. One must always shake another with the right hand and vice versa. Furthermore, waving, eating, pointing or receiving and giving with the left hand is seen as a sign of arrogance and disrespect. This is due to the left hand being perceived as the dirty hand, or, 'toilet hand', which is so ingrained in Ghanaian culture that if the left hand is used the person is inclined to say "sorry for left". This behaviour is virtually unheard of in Britain and while most people are naturally right handed, the left hand is not segregated in everyday activities.

In spite of both countries possessing a vast amount of different make-ups of people, there is commonality which defines the structure of each society. The questions presented at the start still possess a problem in accurately detailing the different cultural differences but I hope this short blog has added to your knowledge of the different characteristics and values which are shared by Britain and Ghana. Thank you for taking the time to read through.