Ghana |
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Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.
Land Boundaries:
Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km and Togo 877 km.
Geography:
Size 239,460 sq km, slightly less than Oregon, US. Ghana has a tropical climate, it is warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north. Ghana's terrain consists of mostly low plains with a dissected plateau in the south-central area. Its lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at 0 m and its highest point is Mount Afadjato standing at 880 m. Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
Population:
Just over 21 million people live in Ghana. Life expectancy is around 56 years. Birth rate is on average 3.02 per woman. 3.1% of the population is believed to have HIV/AIDS. Literacy rate is just under 75%.
Languages:
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga).
Ethnic Groups:
Black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5%.
Religion:
Christian 63%, Muslim 16% and indigenous beliefs 21%.
Brief Political History:
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 the 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 Atta Mills in a free and fair election, succeeded him..
Economic Overview:
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorer 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. Priorities include tighter monetary and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services. Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2004. Inflation should ease, but remain a major internal problem.
Source: CIA World Factbook
Further Reading:
Ghana Travel Links
Cheap Flights to Africa
Health and Safety Tips for Travelers to Africa
