Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
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Geographic coordinates:
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8 00 N, 2 00 W
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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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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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 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, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
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Land use:
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arable land: 17.54%
permanent crops: 9.22%
other: 73.24% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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310 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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53.2 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)
per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)
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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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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
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Population:
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23,832,495
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 37.3% (male 4,503,331/female 4,393,104)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 7,039,696/female 7,042,208)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 393,364/female 460,792) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 20.7 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 21 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.882% (2009 est.)
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Birth rate:
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28.58 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Death rate:
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9.39 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 50% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 51.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 59.85 years
male: 58.98 years
female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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3.68 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.9% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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260,000 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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21,000 (2007 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
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
(2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
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Ethnic groups:
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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)
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Religions:
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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)
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Languages:
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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)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2007)
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Education expenditures:
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5.4% of GDP (2005)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: 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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name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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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 the 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 Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009)
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 2008 with a second round held 28 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012)
election results: John Evans Atta MILLS elected president in run-off election; percent of vote - John Evans Atta MILLS 50.23%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 49.77%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 114, NPP 107, PNC 2, CPP 1, independent 4, other 2
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
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Political parties and leaders:
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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]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or CJA (education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (water rights); Public Citizen (water rights); Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform); Third World Network (education reform)
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International organization participation:
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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, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Adolphus K. ARTHUR
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM
embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 741-000
FAX: [233] (21) 741-389
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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 signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector. 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 2008.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$34.04 billion (2008 est.)
$32.02 billion (2007)
$30.18 billion (2006)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$17.72 billion (2008 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6.3% (2008 est.)
6.1% (2007 est.)
6.4% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$1,500 (2008 est.)
$1,400 (2007 est.)
$1,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 37.3%
industry: 25.3%
services: 37.5% (2006 est.)
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Labor force:
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11.52 million (2008 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 56%
industry: 15%
services: 29% (2005 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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11% (2000 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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39.4 (2005-06)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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31.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $4.021 billion
expenditures: $5.521 billion (2008 est.)
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Public debt:
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66.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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16.4% (2008 est.)
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Central bank discount rate:
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13.5% (31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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NA
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Stock of money:
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$2.179 billion (31 December 2006)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$2.174 billion (31 December 2006)
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Stock of domestic credit:
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$4.173 billion (31 December 2006)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
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Industries:
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mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.5% (2008 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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8.204 billion kWh (2006 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.76 billion kWh (2006 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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755 million kWh (2006 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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629 million kWh (2006 est.)
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Oil - production:
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7,571 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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49,300 bbl/day (2006 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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5,709 bbl/day (2005)
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Oil - imports:
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45,520 bbl/day (2005)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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15 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
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Current account balance:
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-$1.807 billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$5.439 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture
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Exports - partners:
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Netherlands 11%, UK 9%, France 6.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.6%, Belgium 4.4% (2007)
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Imports:
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$9.816 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
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Imports - partners:
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Nigeria 15.1%, China 14.9%, UK 5.2%, US 5.1% (2007)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$2.301 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$5.697 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$NA
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$NA
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Exchange rates:
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cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004)
note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis
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Airports:
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11 (2008)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2008)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2008)
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Pipelines:
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oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2008)
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Railways:
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total: 953 km
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 62,221 km
paved: 9,955 km
unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)
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Waterways:
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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 (2008)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 4
by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Tema
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Military branches:
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Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2008)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 5,802,096
females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 3,849,113
females age 16-49: 3,840,083 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 272,954
female: 266,186 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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0.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
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This page was last updated on 14 May 2009
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