Geography
Area: 238,538 sq. km. (92,100 sq. mi.); about the size of Illinois
and Indiana combined.
Cities: Capital--Accra (metropolitan area pop. 3 million
est.). Other cities--Kumasi (1 million est.), Tema (500,000
est.), Sekondi-Takoradi (370,000 est.).
Terrain: Plains and scrubland, rainforest, savanna.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Ghanaian(s).
Population (2004 est.): 21 million.
Density: 88/sq. km. (228/sq. mi.).
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 2.7%.
Ethnic groups: Akan, Ewe, Ga, Moshi-Dagomba.
Christian singles note-Religions: Christian 69%, Muslim 15.6%,
traditional and indigenous beliefs 8.5%.
Languages: English (official), Akan (which includes Asante Twi,
Akwapim Twi, Akyem, and Fanti) 49%, Mole-Dagbani 16%, Ewe 13%,
Ga-Adangbe 8%, Guan 4%, others 10%.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--72.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2003 est.)--64/1,000. Life
expectancy--59.2 yrs. for women, 55.5 yrs. for men
Work force (11.1 million): Agriculture and fishing--47.9%; industry
and transport--16.2%; sales and clerical--19.3%; services--5.9%;
professional--8.9%; other--1.8%.
Government
Type: Democracy.
Independence: March 6, 1957.
Constitution: Entered into force January 7, 1993.
Branches: Executive--president popularly elected for a
maximum of two 4-year terms; Council of State, a presidential
appointed consultative body of 25 members required by the
constitution. Legislative--unicameral Parliament popularly
elected for 4-year terms. Judicial--independent Supreme Court
justices nominated by president with approval of Parliament.
Subdivisions: Ten regions.
Political parties: New Patriotic Party, National Democratic Congress,
Convention People’s Party, People's National Convention, others.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2003): $7.5 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2003): 5.2%.
Per capita GDP (2003): $365.
Inflation rate (2003): 23.6%.
Natural resources: Gold, timber, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish.
Agriculture: Products--cocoa, coconuts, coffee, pineapples,
cashews, pepper, other food crops, rubber. Land--70% arable
and forested.
Business and industry: Types--mining, lumber, light
manufacturing, fishing, aluminum, tourism.
Trade (2003): Exports--$2.5 billion: cocoa ($818 million),
aluminum, gold, timber, diamonds, manganese. Imports--$3.3
billion: petroleum ($563 million), food, industrial raw materials,
machinery, equipment. Major trade partners--U.K., Germany,
U.S., Nigeria, Togo, France, Netherlands, Spain.
Fiscal year: Calendar year.
GEOGRAPHY
Ghana is located on West Africa's Gulf of Guinea only a few
degrees north of the Equator. Half of the country lies less than 152
meters (500 ft.) above sea level, and the highest point is 883 meters
(2,900 ft.). The 537-kilometer (334-mi.) coastline is mostly a low,
sandy shore backed by plains and scrub and intersected by several
rivers and streams, most of which are navigable only by canoe. A
tropical rain forest belt, broken by heavily forested hills and many
streams and rivers, extends northward from the shore, near the Cote
d'Ivoire frontier. This area produces most of the country's cocoa,
minerals, and timber. North of this belt, the country varies from 91
to 396 meters (300 ft.-1,300 ft.) above sea level and is covered by
low bush, park-like savanna, and grassy plains.
The climate is tropical. The eastern coastal belt is warm and
comparatively dry; the southwest corner, hot and humid; and the north,
hot and dry. There are two distinct rainy seasons in the
south--May-June and August-September; in the north, the rainy seasons
tend to merge. A dry, northeasterly wind, the Harmattan, blows in
January and February. Annual rainfall in the coastal zone averages 83
centimeters (33 in.).
Volta Lake, the largest manmade lake in the world, extends from the
Akosombo Dam in southeastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 520
kilometers (325 mi.) to the north. The lake generates electricity,
provides inland transportation, and is a potentially valuable resource
for irrigation and fish farming.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-Ghana's population is concentrated along the
coast and in the principal cities of Accra and Kumasi. Most Ghanaians
descended from migrating tribes that probably came down the Volta
River valley at the beginning of the 13th century. Ethnically, Ghana
is divided into small groups speaking more than 50 languages and
dialects. Among the more important linguistic groups are the Akans,
which include the Fantis along the coast and the Ashantis in the
forest region north of the coast; the Guans, on the plains of the
Volta River; the Ga- and Ewe-speaking peoples of the south and
southeast; and the Moshi-Dagomba-speaking tribes of the northern and
upper regions. English, the official and commercial language, is
taught in all the schools.
