Was Your Childhood Ghanaian Enough — or Are You Secretly Gen-Z?

Ah, Pampanaa! Now that was the action movie of our childhood. We’d shape sticks into “guns”, hide behind trees, and sneak around like real commandos. The best part? When someone shouted “gigigigigigim!” to kill you — but you refused to die! 🤣 They’d argue, beg, and sometimes even demonstrate how the bullet entered your body before you finally agreed to “fall down.” If you never faked a headshot or argued over who really died, did you even play Pampanaa?

The answer is Dragonfly! 

Now this was advanced technology back in the day! We’d break open a raw plantain peel and use a stick to rub that thick, sticky starch — what we called dragonfly glue. Then we’d sneak up on the poor dragonfly, tap its wings gently, and just like that — it couldn’t fly again! Some of us even tied a thread to it and kept it as a flying pet. If you ever did this, congrats — you had your own version of a drone before tech came to Ghana! 😂

Where I grew up, we called it Koo Diehuo. I’m not sure what name it had in your area. Let us know in the comment box below — we’d love to see the different names across Ghana! 😄

Kɛɛkoo or Zanzama

This game caused more forehead pain than all our exams combined! You’d be laughing with your friends, then suddenly sit down — and BOOM! One hot knock to the head because you forgot to say the magic word. For us, it was “Zanzama”, but in other areas they called it “Keekoo”. Whatever the word, one thing was certain: if you forgot it, your head would remind you. Childhood wasn’t easy, but it was pure vibes! 😄

The Game: Chempe

Chempe wasn’t your regular “game” — it was serious business! Once you and your squad hooked fingers and agreed, the rule was simple: if you got food and forgot to shout “No Chempe!”, the others could pounce and shout “Chempe!” — and boom, you had to share. No mercy. This pact could last for days or weeks. Ending it? You had to re-hook fingers like some sacred ceremony.

Hopscotch!

That legendary game where we’d draw weird boxes on the ground and suddenly turn into Olympic athletes. A sand in a rubber, one leg, plenty rules, and even more drama. If you stepped on a line, there was wahala. And don’t forget the debates over who drew the boxes wrong. You couldn’t tell us we weren’t serious gymnasts back then!

Ahhh yes — Nero Burning ROM. If you used this, you were either the go-to CD plug in your area or someone who proudly wrote “DJ Mix 2006” on discs with a marker. We’d load the software, drag songs or movies in, and feel like computer scientists while watching that “burning” progress bar move. No pen drive? No problem — Nero had us sorted.

👉 If you remember this screen, you definitely lived through the CD-R/RW era. Welcome, fellow old techie!

Sha Wujing, often overlooked but always loyal, was the quiet one in the squad — calm, strong, and usually carrying the luggage (literally). He didn’t talk much, but he always showed up when it mattered. If you forgot him, don’t worry — everyone was too distracted by Sun Wukong’s flying kicks and Pigsy’s food cravings! 😄

Counters Ball — the veranda version of FIFA! All you needed were bottle tops (counters), a smooth cement floor, and plenty imagination. We’d assign names to each counter like Essien, Okocha, or Lampard, and then battle it out like it was the World Cup. Goalposts were made with broom sticks or folded papers, and the arguments? Endless! If your finger never went red from flicking too hard, or you never paused mid-game to let an auntie pass, did you even grow up with vibes?

Ah, the lovable foodie of the group! Zhu Bajie, also known as Pigsy, was always either hungry, lazy, or trying to flirt with someone way out of his league. If you don’t remember him, then maybe you only watched for the monkey. 🐷🍜

This is a VHS cassette — the big black tape people used in a VCR to watch movies. Before streaming, this was how Ghanaian families watched action films, Nigerian movies like Karishika, Remember your mother, and Ghallywood classics on their box TVs. Rewinding after watching was a must!

He was the calm monk on a mission — patient, peaceful, and always getting rescued by the monkey he was supposed to be guiding! Tang Sanzang, the wise master, brought balance to all that chaos. If you picked anything else, you probably came for the monkey but ignored the boss.

This wasn’t just any tin of Milo — this was premium beetle bait! Back in my day, all you needed was an empty Milo tin, and a long stick. You’d poke holes in the tin, You’d spot a bunch of sun beetles chilling on a tree (mostly mango trees), raise your tin under them, give the branch a little shake — and boom! Beetles dropping into the tin. No Wi-Fi, no stress… and trust me, life was sweet!

This little machine was the “tape-backward champion.” After watching a movie, instead of stressing your VCR, you gently slid the tape into this beast, closed the lid, and whrrrrrrr! — it rewound faster than a 2M Express on Accra -Kumasi Highway. Some even looked like sports cars — because rewinding was a race, apparently!

👉 You are probably someone’s grandma or grandpa — or at least called “Uncle” at family events! 😄

Who said we couldn’t build our own cars? Please! We were engineers before we even knew what “engineer” meant. We’d collect empty milk tins like treasure, cut them up carefully (with plenty injuries in the process 😅), and turn them into milk tin cars with bottle-top wheels and wire steering. No fuel, no license — just vibes and imagination. If you never pushed one down a dusty road shouting “vroom vroom!”, did you even grow up in Ghana?

The correct answer is Number Kalo!

Kalo was the official roadside eye test mixed with pain and glory! We’d stand by the roadside like junior detectives, eyes locked on every passing car. The moment we spotted a double — say 33 in 3356 — one of us would shout “33 Kalo!” and proudly deliver three slaps to the back of the other’s hand. If it was 88, ah, just stretch your hand — you’re collecting eight hot ones! This game sharpened our eyes and toughened our palms. If you played Kalo, you truly earned street wisdom!

The correct answer is Journey to the West!

This show had us in a chokehold. We believed the Monkey King, could actually fly on clouds — and after watching, some of us even tried to jump off tables to prove it! 😂 Skipping church to watch it was normal behavior, and after one episode, you’d feel like you had kung fu powers and serious destiny. That monkey wasn’t just a character — he was our hero, our coach, and our spiritual energy!

The answer is Stay.

Stay was the ultimate tension-filled ball game. Once the thrower shouted that deadly word, you had to freeze instantly — even if you were mid-run! If they threw the ball at you and you managed to head or block it but they caught it before it hit the ground, oh boy, you were finished! You’d now be the thrower — everyone’s new enemy. It wasn’t just a game. It was a public test of reflexes, fear, and prayer. 😅

4 Corners or 4 Poles

Four Corners/Poles was pure madness and tactics combined! We’d use stones or blocks to form four goalposts near the walls of an uncompleted building (no windows — perfect ball control). Each person guarded their own goalpost, but the twist? The ball could fly in any direction — no offside, no referee, just vibes! If someone scored you, you were out and the next person waiting joined in. It wasn’t just a game — it was survival of the sharpest. If you ever played this barefoot and dusty, you’re certified old school! 😂

If you grew up glued to your TV every Sunday, skipping chores just to watch a flying monkey do kung fu, then you probably remember Journey to the West. The Monkey King’s name was Sun Wukong — a fearless, magical trickster with a golden staff and the ability to somersault through clouds. After watching, many of us felt like we had powers too. If you picked anything else… well, welcome Gen-Z! 😄

This is Ahomka Ginger.

That small ginger toffee was no joke! We’d pop one in and instantly feel it warm your throat like a mini bonfire. Sweet but sharp — and somehow, we still kept asking for more!

The Walkman was a small music player that used cassette tapes. People listened to hiplife stars like Obrafour, Tic Tac, and Lord Kenya with it. You just needed batteries — and maybe a pencil to rewind the tape!

Oh No!, That is a Malt N Milk Biscuit — the biscuit that made break time feel like a party. Sweet, milky, and always satisfying. You’d guard your last two pieces like gold and even lick the crumbs off the wrapper. If you remember this gem, your childhood snack game was elite — no arguments!

Ei, if you know this game, then you truly lived! We used to gather in numbers — the more, the better. One person would hide small sticks while the rest of us either closed our eyes or stayed far away. Then out of nowhere, you’d just hear them shout, “pi-lo-lo!” and boom — the race was on! You had to be sharp, fast, and quiet. If you found the stick first, you’d act cool, pretend like nothing dey go on, then dash to the finish line before anyone noticed. The moment you crossed that line? Sweet victory! No prizes, just bragging rights and plenty joy. Childhood was wild! 😄