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Guide
Introduction
| |
| Background: |
Formed from the merger of the
British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana
in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its
independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the
constitution in 1981 and the banning of 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. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR. |
| Location: |
Western Africa, bordering the
Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
8 00 N, 2 00 W |
| Area: |
total: 238,540
sq km
land: 230,020 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly smaller than Oregon |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 2,093 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668
km, Togo 877 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical; warm and
comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot
and dry in north |
| Terrain: |
mostly low plains with
dissected plateau in south-central area |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m |
| Natural
resources: |
gold, timber, industrial
diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 12%
permanent crops: 7%
permanent pastures: 22%
forests and woodland: 35%
other: 24% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
60 sq km (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
dry, dusty, harmattan winds
occur from January to March; droughts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
recent drought in north
severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing;
soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of ......potable
water |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
| Geography
- note: |
Lake Volta is the world's
largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March) |
| Population: |
19,894,014
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 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
41.18% (male 4,123,317; female 4,068,786)
15-64 years: 55.35% (male 5,455,577; female 5,555,278)
65 years and over: 3.47% (male 328,809; female 362,247)
(2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.79% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
28.95 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
10.26 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.83 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
56.54 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
57.24 years
male: 55.86 years
female: 58.66 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
3.82 children born/woman
(2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
3.6% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
340,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
33,000 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
black African 99.8% (major
tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and
other 0.2% |
| Religions: |
indigenous beliefs 38%,
Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8% |
| Languages: |
English (official), African
languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga) |
| Literacy: |
definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.5%
male: 75.9%
female: 53.5% (1995 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast |
| Government
type: |
constitutional democracy |
| Administrative
divisions: |
10 regions; Ashanti,
Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East,
Upper West, Volta, Western |
| Independence: |
6 March 1957 (from UK) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 6 March
(1957) |
| Constitution: |
new constitution approved 28
April 1992 |
| Legal
system: |
based on English common law
and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive
branch: |
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);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
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; election last held 7 and 28
December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2004)
election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR elected president in
runoff; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 56.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.6% |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral Parliament (200
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2000 (next to be held NA
December 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - NPP 100, NDC 92, PNC 3, CPP 1, independents 4 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Every Ghanaian Living
Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; National Convention Party
or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr.
Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel
Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI,
acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander
ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kathryn D. ROBINSON
embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775348
FAX: [233] (21) 776008 |
| Flag
description: |
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
- overview: |
Well endowed with natural
resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries
in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on
international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and
cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic
economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which
accounts for 36% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small
landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year
structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus
side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments
have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of
the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures.
Political uncertainty and a depressed cocoa market led to disappointing
growth in 2000. A rebound in the cocoa market should push growth over 4%
in 2001-02. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$37.4 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$1,900 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 36%
industry: 25%
services: 39% (2000 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
31.4% (1992 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 26.1% (1997) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
22.8% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
9 million (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 60%, industry
15%, services 25% (1999 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
20% (1997 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $1.39
billion
expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures
of $370 million (1996 est.) |
| Industries: |
mining, lumbering, light
manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
4.2% (1996 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
5.466 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
26.82%
hydro: 73.18%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
5.573 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
400 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
890 million kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava
(tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber |
| Exports: |
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna,
bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds |
| Exports
- partners: |
Togo, UK, Italy, Netherlands,
Germany, US, France (1998) |
| Imports: |
$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
capital equipment, petroleum,
foodstuffs |
| Imports
- partners: |
UK, Nigeria, US, Germany,
Italy, Spain (1998) |
| Debt
- external: |
$7 billion (1999 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$477.3 million (1995) |
| Exchange
rates: |
cedis per US dollar -
6,895.77 (January 2001), 5,321.68 (2000), 2,647.32 (1999), 2,314.15
(1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
200,000 (1998) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
30,000 (yearend 1998) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet
connected; expansion of services is underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local
loop has been installed
international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects
Ghana to its neighbors |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 18, shortwave 3
(1999) |
| Radios: |
4.4 million (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
11 (1999) |
| Televisions: |
1.73 million (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.gh |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
20,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total: 953 km
(undergoing major rehabilitation)
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track)
(1997 est.) |
| Highways: |
total: 39,409 km
paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,756 km (1997) |
| Waterways: |
1,293 km
note: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of
perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides
1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Takoradi, Tema |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 6 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,484 GRT/18,583 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 4
(2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air Force,
National Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
4,890,483 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
2,713,584 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 213,237
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$53 million (FY99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.7% (FY99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
| Illicit
drugs: |
illicit producer of cannabis
for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and
Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe
and the US |
......
|
