Ghana

<p>Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, but little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of the Akan people's power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and competed for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. 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, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader.<br><br>Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.</p>

Land

227,533 sq km

Total

238,533 sq km

Water

11,000 sq km

slightly smaller than Oregon

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

539 km

Africa

Highest point

Mount Afadjato 885 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

190 m

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created after the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965

360 sq km (2013)

Border countries

Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km

number of neighbors

3

Total

2,420 km

Agricultural land

55.4% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)

arable land

20.7%

Forest

30.7% (2023 est.)

Other

13.9% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

11.9%

No

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

Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Volta (410,991 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/Avy5RSmdsXFBaiXq8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192781

Africa

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

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

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

population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Western Africa

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

UTC

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245)

15-64 years

58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197)

65 years and over

4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577)

Beer

0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

2.4% (2022)

Women married by age 15

3.3% (2022)

Women married by age 18

16.1% (2022)

17.4%

12% (2022 est.)

53.4% (2022 est.)

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

193 per 1,000

adult male

267 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

7.6 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

13.1 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

70.8 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

63.2 (2025 est.)

improved total

42.94%

Improved: rural

rural: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 88.4% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 11.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.2% national budget (2022 est.)

3 % of GDP

Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)

1.73 (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.79%

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Female

27.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

34.5 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

21 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.)

languages

English

note

<strong>note:</strong> English is the official language

number of languages

1

Female

71.8 years

Male

68.4 years

Total population

70.1 years (2024 est.)

Female

72.1% (2021 est.)

Male

81.3% (2021 est.)

Total population

76.5% (2021 est.)

3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)

234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

22.3 years

Male

20.6 years

Total

21.6 years (2025 est.)

22.1 years (2022 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Ghanaian

Noun

Ghanaian(s)

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

10.9% (2016)

0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

18,057,357

Male

17,278,776

Total

35,336,133 (2025 est.)

2.12% (2025 est.)

Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

improved total

18.76%

Improved: rural

rural: 55.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 73.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 85.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 44.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 14.3% of population (2022 est.)

Female

12 years (2022 est.)

Male

12 years (2022 est.)

Total

12 years (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

0.3% (2025 est.)

Male

5.4% (2025 est.)

Total

2.8% (2025 est.)

3.51 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

59.2% of total population (2023)

measles

90%

16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North

Etymology

the name derives from the Akan word <em>nkran</em>, meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century

Geographic coordinates

5 33 N, 0 13 W

Name

Accra

Time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/gh.svg

Amendment process

proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda

History

several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993

alternative spellings

GH

Conventional long form

Republic of Ghana

Conventional short form

Ghana

Etymology

named for a tribal chieftain who ruled a large part of the region prior to the 13th century, even though his territory was northwest of modern-day Ghana; the former name, Gold Coast, came from the gold that Portuguese explorers discovered in the region in the late 15th century

FIFA code

GHA

Former

Gold Coast

local long form (eng)

Republic of Ghana

Chief of mission

Ambassador&nbsp;(vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ACSAccra@state.gov<br><br>https://gh.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra

Mailing address

2020 Accra Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-2020

Telephone

[233] (0) 30-274-1000

Chancery

3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025)

Consulate(s) general

New York

Email address and website

<br>info.washington@mfa.gov.gh<br><br>https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/

FAX

[1] (202) 686-4527

Telephone

[1] (202) 686-4520

Cabinet

Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament

Chief of state

President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)

Election results

<em><br>2024: </em>John Dramani MAHAMA elected president in the first round; percent of vote- John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.5%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPC) 41%, other 2.5% <em><br><br>2020:</em> Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020)

Election/appointment process

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); the president is both chief of state and head of government

Expected date of next election

7 December 2028

Head of government

President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)

Most recent election date

7 December 2024

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for the blood shed for independence, yellow for the country's mineral wealth, and green for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom<br><br><strong>history:</strong> uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

note

<strong>note:</strong> similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

The flag of Ghana is composed of three equal horizontal bands of red, gold and green, with a five-pointed black star centered in the gold band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/gh.svg

presidential republic

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)

Judge selection and term of office

chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70

Subordinate courts

Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

December 2028

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament

Most recent election date

12/7/2024

Number of seats

276 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4)

Percentage of women in chamber

14.5%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

red, yellow, green, black

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings

Total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

black star, golden eagle

All Peoples Congress or APC <br>Convention People's Party or CPP <br>Ghana Freedom Party or GFP <br>Ghana Union Movement or GUM <br>Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP <br>Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG <br>National Democratic Congress or NDC <br>National Democratic Party or NDP <br>New Patriotic Party or NPP <br>People's National Convention or PNC <br>Progressive People's Party or PPP <br>United Front Party or UFP <br>United Progressive Party or UPP 

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

39.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$19.102 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$11.684 billion (2022 est.)

code

GHS

name

Ghanaian cedi (GHS) [₵]

$1.68 billion

Current account balance 2021

-$2.541 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.741 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.407 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$37.41 billion

Debt - external 2023

$29.241 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

West African lower-middle income economy; major gold, oil and cocoa exporter; macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth; recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program

Currency

cedis (GHC) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

5.217 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

5.596 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

5.806 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

8.272 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

11.02 (2023 est.)

$29.2 billion

Exports 2021

$23.901 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$25.52 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$25.365 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$1.77 billion

Exports of goods and services

35.3% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

4.8% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

84.1% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-34.1% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

9.8% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

20.7% (2024 est.)

Industry

28.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

43.9% (2024 est.)

$82.825 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$2,391

43.5 (2016)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

43.5 (2016 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$79.23 billion

$2,310

10 % of GDP

Highest 10%

32.2% (2016 est.)

Lowest 10%

1.6% (2016 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$28.24 billion

Imports 2021

$25.967 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$26.329 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$26.024 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

7.1% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

22.85%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

31.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

38.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

22.8% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

13.928 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

13.25 million persons

agriculture

34.57%

industry

18.26%

services

47.17%

23.4% (2016 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

$276.11 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$223.043 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$230.046 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$243.124 billion (2024 est.)

5.59%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

5.7% (2024 est.)

$8,020

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$7,100 (2024 est.)

$3.03 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

$3.62 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$9.917 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$5.205 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$3.624 billion (2023 est.)

16 % of GDP

12 % of GDP

12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

2.98%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

3.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Female

5.3% (2024 est.)

Male

5.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

5.4% (2024 est.)

Consumption

51,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

21 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

52,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

553 kWh

Exports

2 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

48.449 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

5.519 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

71.6%

Electrification - total population

85.1% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

95%

Biomass and waste

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

35.36%

Hydroelectricity

37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

34.87%

Solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

359 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

660 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

39%

per 100 inhabitants

1 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

Total

223,000 (2023 est.)

state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable

.gh

Percent of population

70% (2023 est.)

+233

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2024 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

269,000 (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100

99 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

114 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

39.1 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

440,680 passengers

registered carrier departures

11,490 departures

11 (2025)

9G

Right

7 (2025)

By type

general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41

Total

52 (2023)

Key ports

Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

1

Total ports

4 (2024)

Very small

2

Narrow gauge

947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

Total

947 km (2022)

GH

armored vehicles

tanks

the military’s primary missions are border defense, assisting with internal security, peacekeeping, and protecting the country’s territorial waters, particularly its offshore oil and gas infrastructure; it has benefited from cooperation with foreign partners, such as the UK and the US, and experience gained from participation in multiple international peacekeeping missions<br> <br>in recent years, Ghana has expanded the Army and reinforced its presence in the northern part of the country to shore up porous borders, interdict smuggling routes, and counter threats from the terrorist organization Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups which has a considerable presence in Burkina Faso and has conducted attacks in Cote d'Ivoire and Togo; Ghana has also made efforts to increase the Navy's capabilities to protect its maritime claims and counter threats such as piracy and illegal fishing (2025)

Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025)

active duty personnel

16,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the GAF also has a Medical Service/Corps

percent of total labor force

0.13 %

estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> over the past decade, Ghana has sought to increase the size of the GAF, particularly the Army, which has added a number of new units

875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions

the military's inventory is a mix of older (mostly Soviet-era) and some newer armaments from such suppliers as China, Japan, Jordan, T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US; the government has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2025)

0 % of GDP

current USD

$268,736,705

Military Expenditures 2020

0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

1.76 %

percent of GDP

0.38 % of GDP

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> as of 2024, women comprised approximately 15% of the military; Ghanaian women first began serving in the late 1950s

PowerIndex score

2.4566

IDPs

4,937 (2024 est.)

Refugees

17,334 (2024 est.)

2017 - first satellite (GhanaSat-1), a technology demonstration/remote sensing nanosatellite built by a Gabonese university with assistance from Japan and released from the International Space Station; established Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory<br><br>2024 - released a national space policy

Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011) (2025)

note

<strong>note:</strong> the GSSTI is eventually slated to become the Ghana Space Agency

has nascent space program focused on Earth observation, space science education, and telecommunications; seeks to exploit remote sensing (RS) technology for agriculture, natural-resource management, weather forecasting, and national security; relies on foreign imagery for analysis but seeks to develop its own RS satellite capabilities; has established cooperative relationships with China, Japan, and a number of regional states, particularly South Africa; working with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda on a satellite to monitor climate changes in the African continent; member of the African Space Agency; partner in the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope (2025)

From coal and metallurgical coke

107,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

7.366 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

13.349 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Marine Life Conservation

Agriculture

166.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

164.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

28.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

134 kt (2019-2021 est.)

43.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

8 % of total land area

1 % of total

56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

5 % of internal resources

Agricultural

1.07 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

95 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

299.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

3.538 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.3% (2022 est.)