Much like the patterned cloth worn by women in the markets of Ghana, Ghanaian society is one of disparate parts and peoples somehow mixing and weaving together into a cohesive whole. Ghana is home to a number of diverse peoples and cultures, all find-ing ways to live together in a country rapidly modernising. Men and women in traditional clothes can be seen text-messaging friends on classy cellphones; business suited professionals take time out to present gifts to tribal leaders.

Also like that cloth, religion in Ghana is often a mix of both traditional prac-tices and more recently introduced

Christian beliefs. There is some growth in the church in Ghana, but there are still unevangelised communities, as well a significant growth in Islam in the last couple of years.

Ghana was the first place in Sub-Saha-ran Africa where Europeans arrived to trade – first in gold, but later in slaves. Upon this poignant history is now being built a strong economy, based still on mineral exports but also Cocoa (Ghana is the second largest producer in the world) and, soon, oil. Ghana is, and continues to be, a model for reform within Africa.

Pray that the true gospel may shine in the hearts of those who call them-selves Christian but who are not born from above. Pray that a decisive break might be made from all fetishism and occult bondages, and true liberty in Jesus might be found.

Young people are increasingly turning to Christ for salvation, but they still only comprise 30% of the church going com-munity, although they represent 45% of the total population. Pray for ministries reaching out to youth in Ghana.

Pray for converts to Christianity amongst the Islamized peoples of the north of Ghana; many of them face verbal and physical persecution at the hands of family and friends. Pray also for more workers in this largely un-reached region.

Praise God for the changes in law in 1998 which outlawed the traditional practice of Trokosi, whereby young girls are imprisoned in shrines as sex-slaves for life as payment for the crimes of others. Whilst many young girls (some as young as five years old) and their children have been released by Christian workers, many still re-main in captivity. Pray for the release of Ghanaian women from this life of servitude and abuse.

Pray for more Christian workers for the nation of Ghana, particularly amongst the traditional peoples in the North.

• Ghana Means “warrior king”.• It is not rude to pick your nose in public.

• People always carry things on their head (mostly chickens).

• There are PINK chickens in the market. Yes PINK.