Geography
Area: 238,538 sq. km. (92,100 sq. mi.); about the size of
Illinois and Indiana combined.
Cities: Capital--Accra (metropolitan area pop. 3 million
est.). Other cities--Kumasi (1 million est.), Tema (500,000
est.), Sekondi-Takoradi (370,000 est.).
Terrain: Plains and scrubland, rainforest, savanna.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Ghanaian(s).
Population (2005 est.): 22 million.
Density: 88/sq. km. (228/sq. mi.).
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 2.7%.
Ethnic groups: Akan, Ewe, Ga, Moshi-Dagomba.
Religions: Christian 69%, Muslim 15.6%, traditional and indigenous
beliefs 8.5%.
Languages: English (official), Akan (which includes Asante Twi,
Akwapim Twi, Akyem, and Fanti) 49%, Mole-Dagbani 16%, Ewe 13%,
Ga-Adangbe 8%, Guan 4%, others 10%.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--72.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2003 est.)--64/1,000.
Life expectancy--59.2 yrs. for women, 55.5 yrs. for men
Work force (11.1 million): Agriculture and fishing--47.9%;
industry and transport--16.2%; sales and clerical--19.3%;
services--5.9%; professional--8.9%; other--1.8%.
Government
Type: Democracy.
Independence: March 6, 1957.
Constitution: Entered into force January 7, 1993.
Branches: Executive--president popularly elected for a
maximum of two 4-year terms; Council of State, a presidential
appointed consultative body of 25 members required by the
constitution. Legislative--unicameral Parliament popularly
elected for 4-year terms. Judicial--independent Supreme
Court justices nominated by president with approval of Parliament.
Subdivisions: Ten regions.
Political parties: New Patriotic Party, National Democratic
Congress, Convention People’s Party, People's National Convention,
others.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2003): $7.5 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2003): 5.2%.
Per capita GDP (2003): $365.
Inflation rate (2003): 23.6%.
Natural resources: Gold, timber, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish.
Agriculture: Products--cocoa, coconuts, coffee, pineapples,
cashews, pepper, other food crops, rubber. Land--70% arable
and forested.
Business and industry: Types--mining, lumber, light
manufacturing, fishing, aluminum, tourism.
Trade (2003): Exports--$2.5 billion: cocoa ($818 million),
aluminum, gold, timber, diamonds, manganese. Imports--$3.3
billion: petroleum ($563 million), food, industrial raw materials,
machinery, equipment. Major trade partners--U.K., Germany,
U.S., Nigeria, Togo, France, Netherlands, Spain.
Fiscal year: Calendar year.
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