Tuesday was a public holiday. I spent the day with Dan, Catherine and Carla. In the early evening indigo clouds rolled in and lightning began to illuminate patches of the sky. Hoping to avoid the impending rain, I took a tro tro back into town to find the centre of Koforidua packed with people. They were lining the streets watching a procession of cars (mainly taxis) slowly making their way along the main street. There were musicians on the back of trucks and people dancing in between them.
The public holiday marked Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan and Koforidua was celebrating this with the procession. Ghana is predominantly a Christian country (70 %), with a significant Muslim minority. The percentage of Christian’s in Koforidua is probably higher than the national average as the Muslims tend to be present in greater numbers the closer to North Africa you get. Given that Christian Ghanaians take their faith very seriously indeed – you just need to see the number of new churches being built to realise this – the celebration of Eid is just one indication of the Ghana’s remarkable religious tolerance. Then it might also be that any excuse for a street party is worth taking.
The public holiday marked Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan and Koforidua was celebrating this with the procession. Ghana is predominantly a Christian country (70 %), with a significant Muslim minority. The percentage of Christian’s in Koforidua is probably higher than the national average as the Muslims tend to be present in greater numbers the closer to North Africa you get. Given that Christian Ghanaians take their faith very seriously indeed – you just need to see the number of new churches being built to realise this – the celebration of Eid is just one indication of the Ghana’s remarkable religious tolerance. Then it might also be that any excuse for a street party is worth taking.
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