| |
| 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: 6th and 10th
Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box
194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 776601, 776602
FAX: [233] (21) 775747 |
| 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
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge; undergoing major
rehabilitation (2000) |
| 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
|
|
|
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