World Facts Index
 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. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry
RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new
constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won
presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from
running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in
2004. Kufuor is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in
upcoming Presidential elections, which are scheduled for December 2008.
Geography of Ghana
|
Location:
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Western Africa, bordering
the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo |
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Coordinates:
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8 00 N, 2 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly smaller than
Oregon |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo
877 km |
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Coastline:
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539 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; warm and
comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot
and dry in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly low plains with
dissected plateau in south-central area |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m |
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Natural resources:
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gold, timber, industrial
diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower |
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Natural hazards:
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dry, dusty, northeastern
harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts |
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Environment current issues:
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recurrent drought in north
severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water |
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Geography - note:
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Lake Volta is the world's
largest artificial lake
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More Geography
Population of Ghana
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Population:
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23,382,848 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.8% (male 4,395,744/female 4,288,720)
15-64 years: 57.7% (male 6,450,828/female 6,483,781)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 371,428/female 419,071) |
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Median age:
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19.9 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.07% |
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Infant mortality:
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55.02 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 58.87 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 59.69 years |
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Fertility rate:
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3.99 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian |
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Ethnic groups:
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black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan
44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% ( |
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Religions:
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Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous
beliefs 21% |
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Languages:
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English (official), African languages
(including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.8%
male: 82.7%
female: 67.1% |
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Ghana
former: Gold Coast |
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Government type:
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constitutional democracy |
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Capital:
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Accra |
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Administrative divisions:
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10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central,
Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western |
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Independence:
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6 March 1957 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 6 March (1957) |
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Constitution:
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approved 28 April 1992 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law and customary
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President John Agyekum KUFUOR
(since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice
President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval
by Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular
vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7
December 2004 (next to be held in December 2008). |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (230 seats; note - increased from
200 seats in last election; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year
terms). |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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 and cocoa
production, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange.
The domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts
for about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small
landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor
Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral
Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. Thematic priorities under its
current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which also provides the
framework for development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability;
private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good
governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along
with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2007. Ghana
signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to
assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector.
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GDP:
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$31.13 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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4.3% |
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GDP per capita:
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$2,500 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 36.6%
industry: 24.6%
services: 38.7% |
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Inflation rate:
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15.1% |
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Labor force:
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10.62 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% |
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Unemployment:
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20% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.216 billion
expenditures: $3.506 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 5%
hydro: 95%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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mining, lumbering, light manufacturing,
aluminum smelting, food processing |
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Agriculture:
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cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca),
peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber |
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Exports:
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gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite,
aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds |
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Export partners:
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Netherlands 12.8%, UK 8.2%, US 6.5%, Belgium 6%, France
5.5%, Germany 4.5% |
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Imports:
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capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs |
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Import partners:
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Nigeria 14%, China 12.5%, US 6.2%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands
4.2%, South Africa 4.2% |
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Currency:
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cedi (GHC) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |