Ghana

Republic of Ghana

constitutional democracyIndependence 6 March 1957 (from UK)

Ghana as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAccra
Position8 00 N, 2 00 W
Area239,460 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
2005

Every edition of Ghana

Populationas each edition published it
21.03 million July 2005 est. · 15.17m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.25% 2005 est. · 3.12% in 1993
Median ageyears
20.45 years 2005 est. · 19.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
58.47 years 2005 est. · 55.19 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.02 children per woman 2005 est. · 6.4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
51.43 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 89 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,300 2004 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.4% 2004 est. · 3.9% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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.

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

18 fields

Land useshare of 239,460 sq km

arable land 16.26%permanent crops 9.67%other 74.07% (2001)irrigated 110 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
239,460sq km
land: 230,940 sq kmwater: 8,520 sq kmslightly smaller than Oregon
Coastline
539km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm
Highest point
880m
Mount Afadjatolowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
2,094km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

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

Natural resources

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Natural hazards

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment - current issues

  • 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

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

People

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

366,472
65 and over3.7%
416,523
6,203,035
15-6459.1%
6,235,107
3,946,326
0-1437.1%
3,862,390
MaleFemale
Population
21,029,853
growth rate: 1.25% (2005 est.)
Note
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 2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth
23.97Death
10.84Net migration
-0.59

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)58.47
57.7 · 59.26Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)51.43
54.25 · 48.53
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)74.8%
82.7% · 67.1%Median age years (2005 est.)20.45
20.2 · 20.7
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Christian 63%Muslim 16%indigenous beliefs 21%

Sex ratio

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:
0.88 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

30,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality

noun:
Ghanaian(s)
adjective:
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)

Languages

English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)

Government

Constitutional democracy; President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.4%
John KUFUOR 53.4%John Atta MILLS 43.7%election last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)

Parliament, 230 seats, elected 7 December 2004one dot, one seat

NPP 128NDC 92other 10

Country name

conventional long form:
Republic of Ghana
conventional short form:
Ghana
former:
Gold Coast

Government type

constitutional democracy

Capital

Accra

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

approved 28 April 1992

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 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)
election results:
John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 53.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.7%

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (230 seats; note - increased from 200 seats in last election; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 128, NDC 92, other 10

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

  • Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, general secretary];
  • Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman];
  • Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY];
  • 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];
  • Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATEN
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 Mary Carlin YATES
embassy:
6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra
mailing address:
P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone:
[233] (21) 775-347, 775-348
FAX:
[233] (21) 701-813

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

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa.

40 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$48.27billion
(2004 est.)
Real growth rate
5.4%
(2004 est.)industrial production growth: 3.8% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
20%
(1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 34.3%industry 24.2%services 41.4% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

69.8%
Mexico
Nigeria
12.6%
China
11.4%
3%
UK
6.6%
US
6.4%
France
4.9%
3.7%
Netherlands
4.2%
Exports $3.01 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $3.699 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues
$2.17 billionExpenditures
$2.56 billion (2004 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production
6.922 billion (2002)Electricity consumption
6.137 billion (2002)Electricity exports
500 million (2002)Electricity imports
200 million (2002)

Economy - overview

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly 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 34% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002. Priorities include tighter monetary and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services. Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2004. Inflation should ease, but remain a major internal problem.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2004 est.)

Labor force

10.24 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.2%
highest 10%:
30.1% (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products

cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Industries

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Oil - production

7,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

8.255 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves

11.89 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance

$83.87 million (2004 est.)

Exports

$3.01 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds

Imports

$3.699 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.267 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$7.396 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$6.9 billion (1999)

Currency (code)

cedi (GHC)

Exchange rates

cedis per US dollar - 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003), 7,932.7 (2002), 7,170.8 (2001), 5,455.1 (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
799,900
(2003)
Fixed lines
302,300
(2003) · country code .gh

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:
  • country code - 233;
  • satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  • microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors;
  • fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)

Internet users

170,000 (2002)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
2,438 to 3,047 m
4
1,524 to 2,437 m
2
914 to 1,523 m
3
under 914 m
2
Paved 7Unpaved 5

Networkskm

Highways
46,176Railways
953Waterways
1,293
Highways: paved: 8,496 km · unpaved: 37,679 km (1999 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2004) · Waterways: note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2003)

Railways

total:
953 km
narrow gauge:
953 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways

total:
46,176 km
paved:
8,496 km
unpaved:
37,679 km (1999 est.)

Waterways

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 (2003)

Pipelines

refined products 74 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Takoradi, Tema

Merchant marine

total:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,086 GRT/26,185 DWT
by type:
petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned:
1 (Brazil 1) (2005)

Airports

12 (2004 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 4,761,226 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 2,721,239 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped rebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 42,466 (Liberia) (2004)

Illicit drugs

  • illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
  • major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US;
  • widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Central Intelligence Agency. “Ghana.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/ghana/2005.

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