2009 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 sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long 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 succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS took over as head of state in early 2009.

Area

total: 238,533 sq km country comparison to the world: 81 land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 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

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%) per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

Irrigated land

310 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 2,094 km border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Land use

arable land: 17.54% permanent crops: 9.22% other: 73.24% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

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

Terrain

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Total renewable water resources

53.2 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.3% (male 4,503,331/female 4,393,104) 15-64 years: 59.1% (male 7,039,696/female 7,042,208) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 393,364/female 460,792) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

28.58 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Death rate

9.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 54

Ethnic groups

Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

HIV/AIDS - deaths

21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

260,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Infant mortality rate

total: 51.09 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 50 male: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.85 years country comparison to the world: 184 male: 58.98 years female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.9% male: 66.4% female: 49.8% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Median age

total: 20.7 years male: 20.5 years female: 21 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Population

23,832,495 country comparison to the world: 47 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

1.882% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Religions

Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2007)

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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.68 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Urbanization

urban population: 50% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

approved 28 April 1992

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 741-000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adolphus K. ARTHUR chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520

Executive branch

chief of state: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

FAX

[1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York

[233] (21) 741-389

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 the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 114, NPP 107, PNC 2, CPP 1, independent 4, other 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Political parties and leaders

Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or CJA (education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (water rights); Public Citizen (water rights); Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform); Third World Network (education reform)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $5.256 billion expenditures: $7.492 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

17% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 18 13.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA

Current account balance

-$3.471 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 -$1.717 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$5.055 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.4 (2005-06) country comparison to the world: 65 40.7 (1999)

Economy - overview

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold and cocoa production, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. Thematic priorities under its current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which also provides the framework for development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability; private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2008.

Electricity - consumption

5.702 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - exports

249 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

435 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

6.746 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Exchange rates

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004) note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis

Exports

$5.275 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $4.172 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Netherlands 13.5%, Ukraine 11.8%, UK 8%, France 5.7%, US 5.2% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 37.3% industry: 25.3% services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $1,400 (2007 est.) $1,300 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 6.3% (2007 est.) 6.4% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.65 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$34.52 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $32.17 billion (2007 est.) $30.27 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)

Imports

$10.26 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $8.066 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 15.6%, Nigeria 14.7%, India 7.4%, US 5.5%, France 4.4%, UK 4.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

8.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

16.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 10.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

32.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force

10.12 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.394 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 $2.38 billion (31 December 2007) $3.233 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - proved reserves

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Oil - consumption

56,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Oil - exports

4,843 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - imports

45,380 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - production

7,399 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Population below poverty line

28.5% (2007 est.)

Public debt

53.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 58.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.028 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.831 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$4.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of money

$NA (31 December 2008) $2.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of quasi money

$NA (31 December 2008) $2.174 billion (31 December 2006)

Unemployment rate

11% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Internet country code

.gh

Internet hosts

23,850 (2009) country comparison to the world: 97

Internet users

997,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)

Telephone system

general assessment: outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of 50 per 100 persons and rising domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

143,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 134

Telephones - mobile cellular

11.57 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53

Television broadcast stations

7 (2007)

Airports

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 155

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 136 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)

Pipelines

oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Tema

Railways

total: 947 km country comparison to the world: 91 narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 62,221 km country comparison to the world: 72 paved: 9,955 km unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Waterways

1,293 km country comparison to the world: 58 note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,802,096 females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 3,849,113 females age 16-49: 3,840,083 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 272,954 female: 266,186 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2008)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Disputes - international

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

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; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use page last updated on November 11, 2009

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)