Let’s consider these 3 (three) salient points:

First, the name “Ghana” itself is inspired by the ancient Ghana Empire (c. 300-1200 AD), located in modern-day Mali and Mauritania.

Although the empire was not geographically in present-day Ghana, it was celebrated as a powerful West African civilization, symbolizing wealth, trade, and cultural unity—qualities that Ghanaian leaders wanted to revive when the nation gained independence from British rule in 1957.

Second, choosing “Ghana” reflected a desire to connect with a pre-colonial African identity, distinguishing the newly independent nation from its colonial past.

Third, the term “Ghanaian” unified diverse ethnic groups under a single national identity, fostering solidarity and pride across different tribes like the Akan, Ewe, and Ga-Dangme.

Today, being called Ghanaian is a point of pride and cultural connection to a history of resilience, strength, and unity.