Pen pals in Ghana

Many Ghanaian names come with a built-in fact: the day of the week the person was born. In the Akan tradition, a boy born on a Friday may be called Kofi and a girl Afua; a boy born on a Saturday, Kwame, and a girl Ama. So if your pen pal signs off with one of these names, you have a natural first question ready, and they may enjoy working out which day name you would have.

Languages you will meet

English is Ghana's official language and the language of schooling, so writing in English is straightforward. In daily life, though, most people also speak at least one Ghanaian language. Akan languages, especially Twi, are widely used across much of the south and centre and in markets far beyond. Ewe is common in the east, Ga around Accra, and Dagbani in the north, alongside many others. You will probably meet the word "Akwaaba", meaning "welcome", sooner or later.

If you want to learn a little Twi, a pen pal can explain how it is actually spoken, which is often quite different from a phrase list. Many Ghanaians switch freely between English and a local language in the same sentence, so do not be surprised by the mix.

Weather, travel and school

Ghana is a short way north of the equator and keeps the same clock as London's winter time all year, with no daylight saving. Rather than four seasons, people speak of rainy and dry seasons. Around December to February the harmattan wind brings dry, dusty air down from the Sahara, giving hazy skies and cooler mornings, especially in the north.

In towns, many people travel by "trotro", the shared minibuses that run fixed routes, or by shared taxi. Traffic in Accra and Kumasi is a regular topic of complaint.

The secondary school calendar in Ghana has been reorganised several times in recent years, so term dates can differ between schools and year groups. Rather than assume, ask your pen pal when their terms run and when they sit exams.

A year in Ghana, and one thing to avoid

• Independence Day, 6 March, marks independence in 1957.
• Founders' Day, 4 August, remembers those who led the independence struggle.
• Farmers' Day, the first Friday of December, honours the people who grow the country's food.
• Homowo, the Ga harvest festival in the Accra area, usually peaks around August. Its name is often translated as "hooting at hunger".

Christmas, Easter and the Eid festivals are widely observed too; Eid dates follow the Islamic lunar calendar and move each year.

Ghana is sometimes lumped together with its neighbours as if West Africa were one country. It has its own history, its own regions and plenty of internal variety; life in Tamale is not the same as life in Cape Coast. Treat your pen pal's corner of Ghana as the starting point, and our guide to learning about a country has more on asking open questions.

Questions to open with

• What is your day name, and do people actually use it?
• Which languages do you speak at home and with friends?
• How do you usually get to school or work?
• Which festival or holiday is the biggest event in your town?