Ghana
Official Country Name
Ghana
Ghana Overview
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of Ghana's third constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice President John ATTA-MILLS in a free and fair election, succeeded him.
Ghana Economy
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 34% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, but was included in a G-8 debt relief program decided upon at the Gleneagles Summit in July 2005. Priorities under its current $38 million Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) include tighter monetary and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services. Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2006 along with record high prices for Ghana's largest cocoa crop to date. Ghana received a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural export sector.
Ghana Location
Ghana is located in Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Region
Ghana is located in Africa
Ghana Population
Ghana has population of 22,409,572 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS
Ghana Climate
Ghana has tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Ghana Terrain
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Ghana Natural Resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Ethnic Groups in Ghana
Ghana has the following ethnic groups - African 98.5% (includes Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)
Ghana Religions
Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21%
Ghana Languages
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Ghana Capital
Ghana capital is Accra
Ghana Currency
Ghana currency is cedi
Map of Ghana
