Ghanaian Americans are an ethnic group of Americans of full or partial Ghanaian ancestry or Ghanaian immigrants who became

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...

citizen of the United States.

History

Early history

The first people to arrive from the region then known as the Gold Coast were brought as

slaves Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

via the

Atlantic slave trade The Atlantic slave trade, transatlantic slave trade, or Euro-American slave trade involved the transportation by slave traders of enslaved African people, mainly to the Americas. The slave trade regularly used the triangular trade route and i ...

. Several ethnic groups such as the Akan, the GangaDarlene Clark Hine, Earnestine Jenkins (eds)
''A Question of Manhood: A Reader in U.S. Black Men's History and Masculinity'', Volume 1
pp. 103–104. or the Ga people were imported as well to the modern United States and the third of these groups appear to have an influence on the language of the

Gullah people The Gullah () are an African American ethnic group who predominantly live in the Lowcountry region of the U.S. states of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina, within the coastal plain and the Sea Islands. Their language and cultu ...

. Because Ghanaian ports were major routes for European slave traders. Captives from ethnic groups and tribes from all over West Africa were brought there to be held and sent to the New World. Most them were imported to South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, although other places in the United States, such as

Spanish Florida Spanish Florida ( es, La Florida) was the first major European land claim and attempted settlement in North America during the European Age of Discovery. ''La Florida'' formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, ...

and French Louisiana also had many slaves of this origin.

Recent immigration

Ghanaians began arriving in the United States ''en masse'' after the 1960s and in the 1970s amidst the civil rights movement and the decolonization of Africa. In 1957, Ghana became the first African country to gain independence from colonial rule. Ghana's first president,

Kwame Nkrumah Kwame Nkrumah (born 21 September 190927 April 1972) was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. He was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957. An in ...

, studied at American universities and worked with black American leaders for the rights of

Black people Black is a racialized classification of people, usually a political and skin color-based category for specific populations with a mid to dark brown complexion. Not all people considered "black" have dark skin; in certain countries, often in s ...

around the world. Notable African-American intellectuals and activists such as

W. E. B. Du Bois William Edward Burghardt Du Bois ( ; February 23, 1868 – August 27, 1963) was an American-Ghanaian sociologist, socialist, historian, and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in ...

and Malcolm X used Ghana as a symbol of black achievement. Most of the early immigrants from Ghana to the United States were students who came to get a better education and planned on using the education acquired in the United States to better Ghana. However, many Ghanaians that migrated in the 1980s and 1990s, came to get business opportunities. In difficult economic times, the number of Ghanaians who emigrated to the United States was small. However, when these economic problems were paralyzed, they built resources for their emigration to the United States.EveryCulture — Ghanaian-Americans
Posted by Drew Walker. Retrieved December 10, 2011, 12:04.

Population and geographic distribution

First- and second-generation Ghanaian immigrations to the U.S. make up a small portion (0.3%) of the total number of foreign-born Americans.

New York City metropolitan area The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban area, urban landmass, at , and one of the list of most populous metropolitan areas, most populous urban agg ...

and

Washington, D.C. metropolitan area The Washington metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the National Capital Region, is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C. The metropolitan area includes all of Washington, D.C. and parts of the states of Maryland, Virgin ...

have the highest numbers of Ghanaian immigrants.The Ghanaian Diaspora in the United States
Migration Policy Institute, Rockefeller Foundation-Aspen Institute Diaspora Program (May 2015 rev.). The state with the largest number of immigrants from Ghana is New York, followed by Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland. The

2010 U.S. Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

tallied 91,322 Ghanaian Americans living in the United States. The

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...

for 2015 to 2019 estimated the total number of immigrants from Ghana in the U.S. to be 178,400. The top five counties of residence were The Bronx (19,500), Prince William County, Virginia (6,400), Franklin County, Ohio (6,400), Cook County, Illinois (5,200),

Essex County, New Jersey Essex County is located in the northeastern part of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county's population was 863,728, making it the state's second-most populous county, behind Bergen and Middlesex Counties.

(5,100),

Montgomery County, Maryland Montgomery County is the most populous county in the state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 1,062,061, increasing by 9.3% from 2010. The county seat and largest municipality is Rockville, although the census-design ...

(5,000), Worcester County, Massachusetts (4,700),

Prince George's County, Maryland ) , demonym = Prince Georgian , ZIP codes = 20607–20774 , area codes = 240, 301 , founded date = April 23 , founded year = 1696 , named for = Prince George of Denmark , leader_title = Executive , leader_name = Angela D. Alsobroo ...

(4,500), Gwinnett County, Georgia (4,100),

Fairfax County, Virginia Fairfax County, officially the County of Fairfax, is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of Northern Virginia and borders both the city of Alexandria and Arlington County and forms part of the suburban ring of Washington, D.C. ...

(3,300), Brooklyn (3,200), Tarrant County, Texas (2,700),

Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County, is the List of the most populous counties in the United States, most populous county in the United States and in the U.S. state of California, ...

(2,500),

Middlesex County, New Jersey Middlesex County is located in central New Jersey, United States, extending inland from the Raritan Valley region to the northern portion of the Jersey Shore. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was enumerated at 863,1 ...

(2,400), and

Dallas County, Texas Dallas County is the second-most populous county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 2,613,539, making it the ninth-most populous county in the country. Dallas County is included in the Dallas-Arlington-F ...

(2,400).

Education and languages

A 2015 report by the

Migration Policy Institute The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) is a non-partisan think tank established in 2001 by Kathleen Newland and Demetrios G. Papademetriou. The Migration Policy Institute is supportive of Liberalism, liberal immigration policies. About The Migrati ...

noted that the educational attainment of first- and second-generation Ghanaian-Americans was similar to the overall U.S. population. About 18% of Ghanaian diaspora members in the U.S. age 25 and over had a bachelor's degree as their highest credential, compared to 20% in the overall U.S. population ages 25 and older. About 12% of Ghanaian diaspora members had an advanced degree, compared to about 11% of the overall U.S. population. Ghanaian Americans speak English, and often also speak Akan, Ga, Ewe and Twi. Ghanaians have an easier time adapting to life in the United States than other immigrants because their homeland of Ghana has the English language as the official language and it is spoken by the majority of Ghana's population.

Organizations and civic life

A 2015 study identified 63 Ghanaian diaspora groups based in the U.S.; these include social groups, charitable and humanitarian organizations, and professional associations (such as the Ghana Physicians and Nurses Association), and regional groups (such as the Ghana National Council of Chicago). Some Ghanaian American organizations are pan-ethnic, while others focus on specific ethnic backgrounds, such as Ewe, Asante, and Gadangme. Most organizations do not have full-time professional staff or large budgets; the largest Ghanaian American organization in terms of revenue was the Ashesi University Foundation, which is based on Seattle.

Notable people

Sports

* Joseph Addai, former American football runningback of the National Football League *

Xavier Adibi Xavier Oyekola Adibi (born October 18, 1984) is an American football coach and former player. He is a defensive analyst at Virginia Tech, and was previously the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M University–Commerce. He played college football ...

, former American football linebacker * Freddy Adu, soccer player of the Las Vegas Lights FC for the United Soccer League * Ezekiel Ansah, American football defensive end for the

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...

of the National Football League *

Jon Asamoah Jonathan Yao-Lante Asamoah (born July 21, 1988) is a former offensive guard who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illino ...

, former offensive guard for the National Football League *

Larry Asante Larry Gibbs Asante (born March 7, 1988) is a former American football safety. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska. Early years Asante was born in Compton, Cal ...

, American football safety *

Joshua Clottey Joshua Clottey (born October 6, 1977) is a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1995 to 2019, and held the IBF welterweight title from 2008 to 2009. As an amateur, he competed at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. At the peak of his car ...

, professional boxer who held the

IBF The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...

welterweight title from 2008-2009 *

Ebenezer Ekuban Ebenezer Ekuban Jr. (born May 29, 1976) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos. He played college football at the University of North Carolina ...

, American football defensive end of the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys * Kofi Kingston *

Nana Kuffour Mohammed Tuah Khamis (born 27 February 1985) is a Ghanaian-American soccer player who plays as a forward (association football), forward. Club career Kuffour was bornin Nyakrom. He was signed by D.C. United as a developmental player during the ...

* Nazr Mohammed * Prince Nana * Akwasi Owusu-Ansah *

Charlie Peprah Charles Yaw Peprah (born February 24, 1983) is a former American football safety and current football scout. He played college football at Alabama. Peprah was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He has also b ...

* Robbie Russell * C. J. Sapong * Visanthe Shiancoe *

Clint Sintim Clint Kofi Sintim (born February 21, 1986) is the linebackers coach for the University of Virginia football team and a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the s ...

* Jeremy Zuttah *

Orleans Darkwa Orleans Opoku-Darkwa (born February 28, 1992) is a former American football running back. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has also played for the New York Giants. He played college football at Tulane. ...

* Eli Apple

Music, arts and entertainment

* Virgil Abloh *

Naki Akarobettoe Naki Akarobettoe (born May 11, 1984), also known as Naki Akrobettoe, is an American poet who has worked with prominent singers and is cofounder of the organizations D.E.E.P. (Developing Empowering Enhancing Poets through Poetry) and Azucar More ...

Rhian Benson Rhiannon Afua "Rhian" Benson (born 10 January 1977 in Accra, Ghana) is a Ghanaian-British soul and jazz singer and songwriter. Early life Benson was born in Accra, Ghana, to a Welsh mother, who was a singer, and an Ashanti father, who was a gui ...

Michael Blackson Michael Blackson is a Ghanaian-Liberian actor, philanthropist, and comedian based in the United States. Early life Michael Blackson was born to a Ghanaian parents. He spent his young years in between Monrovia and Ghana before relocating to t ...

Sufe Bradshaw Sufe Bradshaw ( ; born November 30, 1979) is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue, the secretary and scheduler with an acerbic wit, to Vice-President Selina Meyer, in the HBO comedy series ''Veep''. Her prior acting credits include ...

* Roseanne A. Brown *

William Chapman Nyaho William H. Chapman Nyaho (surname Chapman Nyaho; b. Washington, D.C., 1958) is an American concert pianist specializing in solo piano music by composers from Africa and the African diaspora. He graduated from the Achimota School in Achimota, wher ...

Jay Ghartey Jay Ghartey, also known as Kweku Gyasi Ghartey, is a Ghanaian–American music producer, singer, and songwriter based in New York City, describing his style as African Rhythm and Blues. He released his debut album ''Shining Gold'' in 2011. He i ...

* Lance Gross * Boris Kodjoe *

Kwesi Boakye Kwesi Nii-Lante Boakye ( ; born April 6, 1999) is an American actor. He is best known for voicing Darwin, Gumball's best friend and adoptive brother and Gossamer on the Cartoon Network animated shows ''The Amazing World of Gumball'' and ''The ...

Ofie Kodjoe Ofie Kodjoe is an American-Ghanaian singer, actress, radio presenter and motivational speaker. Early life Ofie was born in New York City to W.B. Ofuatey-Kodjoe, a political science professor, and Virginie Ofuatey-Kodjoe (Nee Coussey). The middle ...

Peter Mensah Peter Mensah (born 27 August 1959) is a Ghanaian English actor, best known for his roles in the films '' Tears of the Sun'', '' Hidalgo'', '' The Incredible Hulk'', ''300'', and television series such as Starz' '' Spartacus: Blood and Sand'', '' ...

Vic Mensa Vic (; es, Vic or Pancracio Celdrán (2004). Diccionario de topónimos españoles y sus gentilicios (5ª edición). Madrid: Espasa Calpe. p. 843. ISBN 978-84-670-3054-9. «Vic o Vich (viquense, vigitano, vigatán, ausense, ausetano, ausonense) ...

Ian Jones-Quartey Ian Jones-Quartey (born June 18, 1984) is an American animator, voice actor, storyboard artist, writer, director, and producer. He is the creator of the animated series '' OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes'', based on his Cartoon Network pilot ''Lakewood ...

Kwei Quartey Kwei Jones Quartey is a Ghanaian American, Ghanaian–American detective fiction novelist and retired physician. For about 20 years, while practising medicine, he also worked as a writer. He balanced both activities by writing in the early mornin ...

* Sam Richardson * Kofi Siriboe * Moses Sumney *

Rashad McCrorey Rashad McCrorey (born November 2, 1979) also known as Nana Kofi Kukudurfo I, is an African-American entrepreneur and investor. He currently serves as the tourism chief of Iture, a sub-town of Elmina in the Central Region of Ghana. Early life a ...

Other

*Akwasi Aidoo * Desmond Daniel Amofah *

Kwame Anthony Appiah Kwame Akroma-Ampim Kusi Anthony Appiah ( ; born 8 May 1954) is a philosopher, cultural theorist, and novelist whose interests include political and moral theory, the philosophy of language and mind, and African intellectual history. Appiah wa ...

Kwabena Boahen Kwabena Adu Boahen is a Professor of Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He previously taught at the University of Pennsylvania. Education and early life Kwabena Boahen was born on September 22, 1964, in Accra, Ghan ...

Joy Buolamwini Joy Adowaa Buolamwini is a Ghanaian-American-Canadian computer scientist and digital activist based at the MIT Media Lab. Buolamwini introduces herself as a poet of code, daughter of art and science. She founded the Algorithmic Justice League ...

* Paul Cuffee *Irene Dankwa-Mullan *

Ave K. P. Kludze, Jr. Ave K. P. Kludze Jr. is a Ghanaian American aerospace engineer and civil servant, specializing in complex systems engineering and design. He is a senior NASA Spacecraft Systems Engineer. Life Kludze was born in Hohoe, in the Volta Region of Gh ...

Samuel Koranteng-Pipim Samuel Koranteng Pipim (born December 10, 1957) is a US-based Ghanaian author, speaker, and theologian. Trained in engineering and systematic theology, he based his office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where, up until 2011, he ministered to students, fac ...

* Monica Owusu-Breen *

Jonathan Corbblah Jonathan Corbblah (born ) is a chess master from New York City, known for appearing on as many American game shows as possible. Personal life Jonathan Corbblah was born in . As a child, he was almost held back in the first grade because he wa ...

* Emmanuel K. Akyeampong *

Oral Ofori Oral Kwame Ofori (born January 26, 1980), professionally known as Oral Ofori, is a Ghanaian-American award-winning digital media producer and blogger, freelance journalist, entrepreneur, and writer. Born in Tema, he is also the founder of the US- ...

* Daniel A. Wubah

References

External links

National Council of Ghanaian Associations
*
news about Ghana and Ghanaian Americans
{{ethnic groups in the United States West Africans in the United States