2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

230,020 sq km

total

238,540 sq km

water

8,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

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

Coastline

539 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Afadjato 880 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Irrigated land

60 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

total

2,093 km

Land use

arable land

12%

forests and woodland

35%

other

24% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

7%

permanent pastures

22%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower

Terrain

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% (male 4,120,240; female 4,063,960) 15-64 years: 55% (male 5,290,675; female 5,391,175) 65 years and over: 3% (male 318,890; female 348,620) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

29.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

Infant mortality rate

57.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

58.82 years (2000 est.)

male

56.07 years

total population

57.42 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

53.5% (1995 est.)

male

75.9%

total population

64.5%

Nationality

adjective

Ghanaian

noun

Ghanaian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

19,533,560

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 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.87% (2000 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%

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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.95 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Capital

Accra

Constitution

new constitution approved 28 April 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Ghana

conventional short form

Ghana

former

Gold Coast

Data code

GH

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON

embassy

Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra

mailing address

P. O. Box 194, Accra

telephone

(21) 775348

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON

telephone

(202) 686-4520

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament

chief of state

President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent of vote - RAWLINGS 57.2%, John KUFUOR 39.8%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)

head of government

President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 686-4527

(21) 776008

consulate(s) general

New York

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

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

6 March 1957 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1

elections

last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Political parties and leaders

Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE ; National Convention Party or NCP ; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala ADJETY]; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$1.39 billion

Currency

1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas

Debt - external

$6 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$477.3 million (1995)

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 40% 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. A rebound in gold prices is likely to push growth over 5% in 2000-01.

Electricity - consumption

5.437 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

400 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

65 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

6.206 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.1%

hydro

99.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

new cedis per US$1 - 3,466.60 (December 1999), 2,647.32 (1999), 2,314.15 (1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995)

Exports

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Togo, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, US, France (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $35.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

40%

industry

30%

services

30% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)

Imports

$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Italy, Spain (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (1996 est.)

Industries

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force

4 million

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

31.4% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1997 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 18, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios

4.4 million (1997)

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

200,000 (1998 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

30,000 (yearend 1998)

Television broadcast stations

11 (1999)

Televisions

1.73 million (1997)

Airports

12 (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways)

total

39,409 km

unpaved

27,756 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 4 (1999 est.)

total

6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,484 GRT/18,583 DWT

Pipelines

0 km

Ports and harbors

Takoradi, Tema

Railways

narrow gauge

953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)

total

953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation)

Waterways

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

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$53 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 4,739,526 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,629,954 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

196,549 (2000 est.)

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

GIBRALTAR