Name: Republic of Ghana. Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of
Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. Capital: Accra. Borders to: Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo. Area: 239,460 sq km. Climate: Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along
south-east coast, hot and humid in southwest, hot and dry in north. Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds,
bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower.
Population: App. 20,467,747 Population growth rate: 1.45% (2003 est.) Infant mortality rate: 53.02 deaths per 1,000 live
births. Female: 49.98 deaths per 1,000 live births. Male: 55.97
deaths per 1,000 live births (2003 est.) Life expectancy at birth: Population (56.53). Male
(55.66). Female (57.43), (2003 est.) 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). Religions: Indigenous beliefs 21%, Muslim 16%,
Christian 63%. Languages: English (official), African languages
(including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga). Literacy: 74.8% (above age 15). Male: 82.7% Female:
67.1% (2003 est.)
Government type: Constitutional democracy. President: John Agyekum Kufuor (since 7 January
2001). Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK).
Currency: Cedi (GHC). GDP: $41.25 billion, $2,000 per capita (2002 est.).
Here of agriculture 36%, industry 25%, services 39%
(2000 est.) Pop below poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.).
