| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
8° 00' North Latitude
2° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
239,460 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north |
| Natural Resources |
Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Ghana |
| Capital City |
Accra |
| Government Type |
Constitutional democracy |
| Administrative Divisions |
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western |
| Independence Day |
6 March 1957 (from UK) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
21,029,853 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Ghanaian |
| 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% (1998) |
| Religion |
Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21% |
| Languages |
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga) |
| Population Growth Rate |
1.25% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Cedi (GHC) |
| Industries |
Mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building |
| Labor Force |
10.24 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber |
| Export Commodities |
Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds |
| Export Partners |
Netherlands 11.1%, UK 10.9%, France 6.9%, US 6%, Belgium 4.8%, Germany 4.4%, Japan 4.3% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs |
| Import Partners |
Nigeria 12.8%, China 10.1%, UK 7%, US 6.7%, France 5.3%, South Africa 4.2%, Netherlands 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
953 km |
| Highways |
46,176 km |
| Pipelines |
Refined products 74 km (2004) |
| Airports |
12 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Takoradi, Tema |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+233 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.gh |
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| Other |
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| Short 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. |
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