| Official Name |
Republic of Ghana |
Member of the Commonwealth, African Union, and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) |
| Independence |
March 6, 1957 |
Formerly Gold Coast, a British colony |
| Capital City |
Accra (rhymes with “a car”) |
Population approx. 2.5 million |
| Main Cities |
Kumasi, Tamale, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tema |
|
| Area |
92,100 sq. miles (238,540 sq. km) |
|
| Geography |
Sub-Saharan West Africa. Bordered by Togo, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gulf of Guinea |
10 regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta, Brong-Ahafo, Eastern, Western, Central, Northern, Upper East, Upper West |
| Terrain |
South to north: coastal plains, rain forest, savanna; mountains in east up to 2,952 feet (900 m) |
Lake Volta is two-thirds the length of the country. |
| Climate |
Tropical; rainy summers, dry winters |
|
| Population |
22 million (2007 estimate) |
|
| Ethnic Makeup |
Black African 99%, other (mainly Lebanese) 1% |
|
| Age Structure |
0–14 years 41%
15–64 years 55%
65+ years 4% |
|
| Natural Resources |
Gold, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, timber, cocoa, oil, hydroelectricity |
|
| Currency |
Ghana cedi (Gh C) (pronounced “seedy”) |
1 Gh C = 100 Ghana Pesewas (Gh P); 1 Gh C = approx. US $1 |
| Language |
The national language is English. |
There are 50+ local langs., incl. Twi, Fante, Ewe, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, Nzema. |
| Religion |
Mostly Christian; 15% Muslim |
The remainder hold traditional, or animist, beliefs. |
| Government |
Republic with tricameral legislature. Constitutional democracy |
President is head of state, elected for four-year term. Longest history of democratic elections in Africa |
| Media |
TV: GTV (Engl. and Ghanaian langs.); TV3 and Metro TV (English). Radio: Joy FM, Radio Gold, Atlantis FM (Engl.); Peace FM (Twi) |
Newspapers: Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Chronicle, Ghanaian Times (all English); Graphic Asempa (Twi) |
| Electricity |
220 volts (50 Hz) |
Two- and three-pronged plugs used |
| TV/Video |
PAL system |
|
| Internet Domain |
.gh |
|
| Telephone |
Country code 233 |
|
| Time Zone |
GMT |
|