Ghana

UNDP supports women to enhance their productivity

The Country Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana Dr. Kamil K. Kamaluddeen has visited the Multifunctional Platform (MFP)...

Missing Vinasha

Editor, Allow me space in your widely read newspaper to express my views on this relevant issue. Ever since Vinasha went to England, The Gambian...

GHANA: Women in power – trickle down?

The arrival of women at top positions in Ghana's government and security forces has highlighted the question of whether such milestones will...

News Release: MFWA hosts Roundtable on Media Development Fund

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will from February 18 to 19, 2009 hold a Stakeholders Consultative Roundtable in Accra, Ghana to finalize...

Ghana ALERT: Policeman assaults two female sports journalists

Rashidatu Kadiri of Atlantis Radio and Dorcas Oparibea of Top Radio were on February 11, 2009 assaulted by a policeman at the Ohene Djan Sports...

Africa hails Ghana election as democratic success

Ghana's peaceful presidential election was a rare example of a functioning democracy in Africa and should be a model for the continent, African...

Republic of Ghana

Geography

Capital: Accra
Major Towns: Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Takoradi
Location (geographical coordinates/latitude and longitude): 5°33'N, 0°15'W
Time Zone: GMT
Size (Land and Sea): 239,460 sq km
Borders with Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m; Highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Politics

Head of State: President John Agyekum Kufuor
Form of Government: Constitutional Republic
Independancy (from UK): 6 March 1957
Currency: Ghanaian cedi (GHS)

Industry

Main industries: Mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Agriculture: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Population and People

Population: 22,931,299
Population density per sq mi: 258
Growth rate: 2.0%
Birth rate: 29.85 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 53.6/1000
Religion: 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: 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)
Ethnic groups / Tribes: 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)
Average age: 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.)
Life expectancy: 59.1
Literacy (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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The word "Ghana" means "Warrior King"
Up until March 1957, Ghana was known to much of the world as the Gold Coast
The name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana that once extended throughout much of western Africa
Rich natural heritage
Dense rainforests
Wildlife includes antelope, monkeys, lions and elephants
Famous for birds and butterflies
Was the site of the Empire of Ashanti which was perhaps the most advanced black state in sub-Sahara Africa. It is said that at its peak, the King of Ashanti could field 500,000 troops
Palm-fringed beaches and lagoons with watersport activities
Many traces of the country’s rich history
42 European forts and castles including Elmina and Cape Coast Castles which are all recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Monuments
Colourful traditional festivals
Ghana was the title of the kings who ruled the kingdom in the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa
Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa
The Greenwich Meridian traverses the eastern part of Ghana at Tema. It is said that Ghana is geographically closer to the "center" of the world than any other country.
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
More than 250 languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana
Accra, the capital, with Centre for National Culture, Makola Market, Osu Night Market (which is illuminated by hundreds of lanterns and candles)
Many options to go on safari: Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Bia National Park, Bui National Park, Mole Game Reserve and Kakum Nature Reserve
World famous Fantasy Coffins at Nungua. (carpentry workshops). Among the Ga people it is fashionable to be laid to rest in a coffin that bears a relationship to what the deceased did in life.
Kumasi is the historic capital of the Ashanti civilisation
Larabanga Mosque: Built in the style of former Western Sudanese Empires, it houses a holy Koran and is believed by locals to be a ‘God-built mosque'
Witches' settlements: sanctuaries for people, mostly women, accused of witchcraft
Kakum National Park in Cape Coast with a canopy walkway suspended 30m (98ft) above the forest floor