SHS DirectorySHS MatchLesson PlansGES Promotion Past QuestionsStudent Lesson NotesBlogs

Basic 2 · History · The People of Ghana

Other Ethnic Groups of Ghana

In this topic you will learn about the Guan, Gurma and Grusi peoples.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name the Guan, Gurma and Grusi peoples
  • Say where they live
  • Name one festival or tradition of each

What you already know

  • The Mole-Dagbani people

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
My Country Ghana
Sub-strand
The People of Ghana
Indicator
B2.2.1.1.1 – Identify the ethnic groups in each region of Ghana

Introduction

The Effutu of Winneba hunt for a live deer during the Aboakyer festival. The Effutu are Guan. Ghana has many smaller ethnic groups with proud traditions.

1. The Guan

The Guan live in many parts of Ghana. They include the Effutu (Winneba), the Gonja (Savannah Region) and the Larteh (Eastern Region).

Festival: Aboakyer (deer hunt) of the Effutu.

2. The Gurma

The Gurma live mainly in the Northern and North East Regions. They include the Konkomba and Bimoba.

3. The Grusi

The Grusi live mainly in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. They include the Kasena and Sisaala.

The Kasena are known for beautifully painted houses at Sirigu and Tiébélé-style designs.

Effutu hunters carrying a live deer at the Aboakyer festival
Figure 1: The Aboakyer festival Draw the Aboakyer deer hunt.Photo: Fquasie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Summary of these groups
GroupWhereExamples
Guanmany regionsEffutu, Gonja, Larteh
GurmaNorthern, North EastKonkomba, Bimoba
GrusiUpper East, Upper WestKasena, Sisaala

New words

Guan
An ethnic group found in many parts of Ghana.
Gurma
An ethnic group in the north-east of Ghana.
Grusi
An ethnic group in the Upper Regions.
Aboakyer
The deer-hunt festival of the Effutu.

Summary

  • The Guan include the Effutu, Gonja and Larteh.
  • The Gurma include the Konkomba and Bimoba.
  • The Grusi include the Kasena and Sisaala.

Class activity: Group Chart

  1. Make a chart of the Guan, Gurma and Grusi.
  2. Write where each group lives.
  3. Find each place on the map.

You need: Large Ghana regional map, Locally made region-and-capital cards, Manila map puzzle

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Aboakyer is a festival of the…

    • A. Effutu
    • B. Ga
    • C. Ewe
    • D. Dagomba
    Show answer
    Answer: EffutuThe Effutu of Winneba hold Aboakyer.

  2. 2. The Konkomba belong to which group?

    • A. Gurma
    • B. Akan
    • C. Ewe
    • D. Guan
    Show answer
    Answer: GurmaThe Konkomba are Gurma.

  3. 3. The Gonja are Guan.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThe Gonja are a Guan people.

  4. 4. The Sisaala live mainly in the Central Region.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseThey live mainly in the Upper West.

  5. 5. During Aboakyer, hunters catch a live ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: deerIt is a deer hunt.

  6. 6. Name one group of each: Guan and Grusi.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. Effutu (Guan), Kasena (Grusi).These are members of each group.

Homework

  1. Find out the ethnic group of a classmate or neighbour and one of their traditions.