Ghana Location:
Physical. Ghana is located in West Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. It spans an area slightly smaller than Oregon. Ghana has a tropical climate that is warm and relatively dry along the southeast coast, hot and humid in the southwest, and hot and dry in the north. The terrain is mostly low plains with dissected plateau in the south-central area. Natural resources in Ghana are: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite manganese, fish, rubber, and hydropower.
Ghana Geography:
Geography
Area: 92,100 square miles
Capital: Accra (pop 1,925,000)
Environmental concerns: drought; deforestation; over grazing; soil erosion; threatened wildlife populations; water pollution; insufficient potable water
Geographical features: low plains with dissected plateau
Climate: tropical
Ghana People:
People. Ghana is home to more than 20 million people. English is the official language, with the languages of each tribal group in use as well. Ethnically, the population is almost African. Major religious beliefs are: Christian (63%) indigenous beliefs (21%) and Muslim (16%).
20,245,000 people; nearly 100% African
Annual growth rate: 1.7%
Major languages are English; Akan; Ewe; Ga
Religions: Christian (63%); indigenous beliefs (21%); Muslim (16%)
Ghana Government:
Government. In December, 2000, John Kufuor defeated sitting vice-president John Atta Mills in the first real transfer of power through elections for Ghana. The election ended 20 years of rule by the incumbent president who had ruled in violation of the constitution. President Kufuor has promoted reconciliation without recrimination in a country with a history of political division.
Ghana is a constitutional democracy and gained its independence from the United Kingdom on March 6, 1957
President John Agyekum Kufuor is both head of state and government
3 major political parties
Universal suffrage at 18
Ghana Communication:
Communication and transportation
240,000 main telephone lines
170,000 Internet users (2002)
24,428 miles of highway
592 miles of railroad
12 airfields
135,000 motor vehicles
Ghana Economy:
Economy. Through efforts in the 1990's, Ghana made gradual but steady progress rebuilding its economy. These gains have modestly benefited many Ghanaians. The World bank/IMF sponsored Economic Recovery Program (ERP) has cost many ordinary (especially urban) Ghanaians in falling wages and rising inflation. Unemployment has continued to increase in many areas and is estimated today at 20%.The country has achieved economic growth and was awarded a debt-relief package and the ERP program has surprising support from lower urban income groups. Nonetheless when adjusted for inflation, per capita income remains below the level that existed in 1957 when Ghana achieved independence.
Currency: cedis
Per capita GDP: $1,980
GDP: $ 39.4 billion
GDP growth rate: 0.3%
Inflation rate: 25%
Labor force: 39% services; 36% agriculture; 25% industry
Ghana More Information:
www.ghana.gov.gh
www.ghana.com
www.ghana-embassy.org
www.ghanaweb.com | 
