Current Time in Ghana
Ghana's culture of time
Ghana's culture of time
The custom of "African time"
It is common for things to start later than scheduled in Ghana, and the term "African time" is widely used. This is a manifestation of a culture that values human relationships and situations more than strict time.
Religious activities start early in the morning
Many people practice Christianity or Islam, and worship and prayers are often held early in the morning. Many people gather at churches on Sunday mornings and mosques on Friday afternoons.
Markets and shops open early
Local markets and shops often open around 7am, and mornings are considered the most lively time of the day. Early hours are important because people become less active in the afternoon due to the heat.
Ghanaian values regarding time
Relationships with people are more important than time
Even if you are late, it is important to "not rush," and there is a value system that prioritizes harmony in human relationships. Therefore, people are rarely scolded for being late, and flexibility is respected.
Time sense according to nature and climate
People tend to refrain from activities in the afternoon when the temperature rises, and schedule important events in the morning or evening. This is deeply related to a lifestyle that involves a lot of farm work and outdoor activities.
Flexible schedule changes are common
Plans often change at the last minute due to family circumstances or transportation, and it is considered natural etiquette in society to accept this.
Things about time that foreigners should know when traveling or moving to Ghana
Meetings and events often run later than scheduled
Even in business situations, it is common for events to start later than scheduled. Rather than expecting events to start on time, it is necessary to be flexible and expect some delays.
Public transport does not follow a timetable
Local buses and trotros (shared buses) do not have a fixed timetable, and depart as soon as they are full. It is difficult to follow the time, so you need to be flexible.
It is important to adapt to your business partner's sense of time
In negotiations and meetings, it is important to adapt to the other person's pace. If you bring the Japanese strictness of punctuality as it is, you may feel distant.
Interesting trivia about time in Ghana
"I'll be there soon" is often not right away
In Ghana, it is not uncommon for someone to take a while to actually come when they say "I'm coming" or "soon". This does not mean "right now" but is a softer expression that means "soon".
The culture of ending activities with the sun setting is deeply rooted
Many areas do not have lighting facilities, and activities at home and in the market end early when the sun goes down. For this reason, you should be careful about making appointments after the evening.
Roadside clock towers and mosque time signals are the city's standard for time
In urban areas, clock towers and the adhan (call to prayer) played by speakers at mosques are familiar to citizens as a guide to the time of day.