2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.1% (male 3,946,326/female 3,862,390) 15-64 years: 59.1% (male 6,203,035/female 6,235,107) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 366,472/female 416,523) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

12 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) Military Ghana

Area

land

230,940 sq km

total

239,460 sq km

water

8,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

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 Ghana

Birth rate

23.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.56 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$2.17 billion

Capital

Accra

Climate

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

Coastline

539 km

Constitution

approved 28 April 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Ghana

conventional short form

Ghana

former

Gold Coast

Currency (code)

cedi (GHC)

Currency code

GHC

Current account balance

$83.87 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

10.84 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$7.396 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES

embassy

6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra

FAX

[233] (21) 701-813

mailing address

P. O. Box 194, Accra

telephone

[233] (21) 775-347, 775-348

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATEN

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 686-4527

telephone

[1] (202) 686-4520

Disputes - international

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.7 (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$6.9 billion (1999)

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.

Electricity - consumption

6.137 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

500 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

6.922 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

5%

hydro

95%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Afadjato 880 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

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)

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)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

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

election results

John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 53.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.7%

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)

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Mexico 69.8%, Netherlands 3.7%, UK 3% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Ghana

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 Ghana

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

34.3%

industry

24.2%

services

41.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

5.4% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$48.27 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake People Ghana

Government type

constitutional democracy

Highways

paved

8,496 km

total

46,176 km

unpaved

37,679 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

30,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

350,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

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 This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Nigeria 12.6%, China 11.4%, UK 6.6%, US 6.4%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.2% (2004)

Independence

6 March 1957 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

3.8% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

48.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

54.25 deaths/1,000 live births

total

51.43 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13% (2004 est.)

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

Internet country code

.gh

Internet hosts

407 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

12 (2000)

Internet users

170,000 (2002) Transportation Ghana

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

110 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

10.24 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

total

2,094 km

Land use

arable land

16.26%

other

74.07% (2001)

permanent crops

9.67%

Languages

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

Legal system

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 128, NDC 92, other 10

elections

last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

59.26 years (2005 est.)

male

57.7 years

total population

58.47 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

67.1% (2003 est.) Government Ghana

male

82.7%

total population

74.8%

Location

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis (2004)

vectorborne diseases

malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

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.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

250,782 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

20.7 years (2005 est.)

male

20.2 years

total

20.45 years

Merchant marine

by type

petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3

foreign-owned

1 (Brazil 1) (2005)

total

4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,086 GRT/26,185 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$49.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.6% (2004) Transnational Issues Ghana

Military service age and obligation

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Nationality

adjective

Ghanaian

noun

Ghanaian(s)

Natural gas - proved reserves

11.89 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

7,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

8.255 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

refined products 74 km (2004)

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

21,029,853 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.)

Population below poverty line

31.4% (1992 est.)

Population growth rate

1.25% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Takoradi, Tema

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios

12.5 million (2001)

Railways

narrow gauge

953 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

total

953 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

42,466 (Liberia) (2004)

Religions

Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.267 billion (2004 est.)

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.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed

general assessment

poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is underway

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

Telephones - main lines in use

302,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

799,900 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

10 (2001)

Televisions

1.9 million (2001)

Terrain

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Total fertility rate

3.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

20% (1997 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)