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This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008


Map of Ghana



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Ghana Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 re-elected in 2004. Kufuor is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in upcoming Presidential elections, which are scheduled for December 2008.
   Geography    Ghana Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
539 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 17.54%
permanent crops: 9.22%
other: 73.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
310 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
53.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
   People    Ghana Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22,931,299
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 4,438,308/female 4,329,293)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 6,661,512/female 6,687,738)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 380,495/female 433,953) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 20.2 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 20.4 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.972% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29.85 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.55 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.025 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.996 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.877 male(s)/female
total population: 1.003 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 53.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 59.12 years
male: 58.31 years
female: 59.95 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)
   Government    Ghana Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 52.4%, John ATTA-MILLS 44.6%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPP 128, NDC 94, PNC 4, CPP 3, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Kwame BAWUAH-EDUSEI
chancery: 1156 15th St. NW #905, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER
embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 741-000
FAX: [233] (21) 741-389
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
   Economy    Ghana Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$31.23 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$14.89 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 37.3%
industry: 25.3%
services: 37.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.29 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
28.5% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
39.4 (2005-06)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
31.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $4.347 billion
expenditures: $5.197 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
48.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.4% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.042 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.906 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
256 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
461 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
700 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
47,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8,041 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
45,010 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16.5 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22.81 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$1.885 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.194 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Netherlands 11.3%, UK 8.7%, US 6.7%, Spain 5.7%, Belgium 5.2%, France 4.4% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.073 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Nigeria 16.7%, China 13%, UK 5.7%, Belgium 4.7%, US 4.7%, South Africa 4.1%, France 4.1% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$1.316 billion in loans and grants (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.837 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.387 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$13.01 billion (2007)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Ghana cedi (GHC)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
cedis per US dollar - 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Ghana Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
356,400 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.207 million (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: fixed-line infrastructure outdated and unreliable; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with subscribership about 25 per 100 persons and rising
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed
international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
7 (2007)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gh
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,899 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
609,800 (2006)
   Transportation    Ghana Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
oil 13 km; refined products 316 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 953 km
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 42,623 km
paved: 3,267 km
unpaved: 39,356 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,293 km
note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,032 GRT/7,282 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Tema
   Military    Ghana Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 4,808,451
females age 18-49: 4,762,459 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 3,011,081
females age 18-49: 2,991,551 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 251,056
females age 18-49: 247,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.8% (2006 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Ghana Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 38,684 (Liberia), 14,136 (Togo) (2006)
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008


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