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Ghanaian Arabs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ghanaian Arabs
غانيون عرب
Arab LeagueGhana
Total population
3,400[1]
(Middle East nationals only, unknown number of descendants).

Regions with significant populations
Mainly urban areas:
Accra, Tamale and Kumasi.
Languages
Ghanaian English, Arabic, Akan and other Languages of Ghana.
Religion
Islam and Christianity mainly Maronite Church.
Related ethnic groups

Ghanaian Arabs (French: Arabes ghanéens; Akan: Nkɔmbɔtwetwe Arabia Gaana; Dagbani: Gana laribaawanima; Arabic: غانيون عرب) are Ghanaians and citizens of Arab origin or descent. Ghanaian Arabs are mainly from Lebanon, Syria and Arab Maghreb. Ghana has the largest Arab population in western Africa.

Distribution

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The vast majority of Arabs live in major cities and towns in south central, south eastern, south western or southern Ghana. Coastal cities such as Accra, Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Tema also have Arab populations. Apart from Accra and Kumasi, Coastal Areas and Southern Ghana, there are Arab communities in Koforidua and Sunyani.

Background

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The First Lady of Ghana, Fathia Nkrumah with son Gamal Nkrumah the international affairs editor of Al Ahram Weekly newspaper of Egypt.

Arabs have been present in Ghana for millennia,[dubiousdiscuss][citation needed] mostly as merchants in the 15th century, then into the 21st century as business people, and due to this intermarriage has occurred with also the production offsprings of Afro-Arabs; Fathia Nkrumah is a notable Arab with ties to Ghana. She was the late wife of Ghana's first president and revolutionist Kwame Nkrumah, whose marriage was seen as helping plant the seeds of cooperation between Egypt and other African countries as they struggled for independence from European colonization. This helped advance the formation of the African Union.[2] Arabs who have lived in Ghana for most of their lives have acquired Ghanaian citizenship.[citation needed]

Economics

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Mostly Lebanese business people or Syrians own businesses, such as restaurants, hotel chains, import and export companies. Historically Arab merchants have been operating in Ghana and across Sub-Saharan Africa for millennia.[dubiousdiscuss][citation needed][3][failed verification][4][failed verification]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Arabs in Ghana".
  2. ^ African Union Summit Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Migration in Ghana. encyclopedia.com. 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  4. ^ http://www.imi.ox.ac.uk/pdfs/ghana-country-paper Country Paper: Ghana] Archived 22 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2012.