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This article is about the modern country of Ghana. For the Ghana Empire (c. 790–1076) northwest of modern Ghana, see Ghana Empire. For other uses, see Ghana (disambiguation).

Republic of Ghana
Motto: "Freedom and Justice"
Anthem: God Bless Our Homeland Ghana [1]
File:God Save Our Homeland Ghana Instrumental.ogg
Location of Ghana (red)
Location of Ghana (red)
Location of the Republic of Ghana (dark blue) – in Africa (light blue & dark grey) – in the African Union (light blue)
Location of the Republic of Ghana (dark blue)

– in Africa (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union (light blue)

Capital
and largest city
Accra
Official languagesEnglisha[2]
Government-sponsored
languages
9 languages[3]
Demonym(s)Ghanaian
GovernmentUnitary presidential
constitutional republic
• President
John Dramani Mahama
Kwesi Amissah-Arthur
LegislatureParliament
Independence from the United Kingdom
• Declared
6 March 1957
• Republic
1 July 1960
28 April 1992
Area
• Total
238,535 km2 (92,099 sq mi) (81st)
• Water (%)
3.5
Population
• 2010 estimate
24,233,431[4]
• Density
101.5/km2 (262.9/sq mi) (103rd)
GDP (PPP)2013 estimate
• Total
US$89.509 billion[5]
• Per capita
US$3,501[5]
GDP (nominal)2013 estimate
• Total
US$42.715 billion[5]
• Per capita
US$1,670[5]
HDI (2013)Increase 0.558[6]
medium (135th)
CurrencyGhana cedi (GH₵) (GHS)
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy (AD / CE)
Drives onright
Calling code+233
ISO 3166 codeGH
Internet TLD.gh
  1. See also Ghanaian English
Mobile phone system GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, HSDPA, WiBro and LTE. Domestic power supply 240V/60 Hz, CEE 7/7 sockets

Ghana (/ˈɡɑːnə/ ⓘ), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a sovereign state and unitary presidential constitutional republic located on the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean in West Africa. Ghana consists of ten territorial administrative regions with several islands and it is bordered by the Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east and the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean to the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King".[7]

Ghana has the same land mass as the United Kingdom with the northern half of Ghana containing savannas and wildlife and the southern half of Ghana containing great industrial mineral and fossil fuel wealth, principally gold, petroleum and natural gas.[8][9] The southern half of Ghana dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources,[10] and is rich in forests, woodlands and fertile lands, and features a string of springs, waterfalls, streams, rivers, caves, lakes, esturaries, mountains, wildlife parks and nature reserves.[11] The coast of Ghana is a labyrinth of castles, forts, ports, harbours, Cape Three Points peninsula, and beaches that line Ghana's 560 kilometres (348 miles) Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean coastline of mainly sandy beaches.[11]

Ghana was inhabited in the Middle Ages and the age of discovery by a number of ancient predominantly Akan kingdoms, including the inland Ashanti Empire, the Akwamu, the Bonoman, the Denkyira, and the Mankessim Kingdom among others. Non-Akan states created by the Dagomba also existed. Prior to the Black contact with Europeans, trade between the Akan and various African states flourished due to Akan gold wealth. Trade with European states began after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century. In 1874 England established control over some parts of the country assigning these areas the status of Gold Coast.[12] The Gold Coast declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 and established the nation of Ghana. This made it the first African country to gain independence from colonial rule.[13][14][15] 99% of Ghana's population are African people.

Ghana, known as "the Switzerland of Africa", has had democracy, political stability from 2001 and has enjoyed rapid economic growth and rising human development from 2001 to 2009.[16] Ghana is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, and the Group of 24.[17] Ghana is the second largest cocoa producer in the world,[18] one of the world's largest gold producers, petroleum and natural gas producer, and Ghana is home to Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world by surface area.[19]

Name and etymology

An ancient Middle Ages Akan warrior akrafena sword of the Republic of Ghana.

The word Ghana means "Warrior King" and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval West African Ghana Empire, although this empire was further north than the modern-day country of Ghana.[20]

The name "Ghana" was the source of the name "Guinea" (via French Guinoye) used to refer to the west Africa coast off the Republic of Ghana (as in Gulf of Guinea).[21]

Ghana was adopted as the legal name for the Gold Coast combined with British Togoland upon declaration of independence and autonomy on 6 March 1957.[20]

History

Main article: History of Ghana
16th – 17th century Akan Terracotta

There is archaeological evidence showing that humans have lived in present-day Ghana since the Bronze Age.[22] However, until the 11th century, the majority of modern Ghana's area was largely unoccupied.[23] Although the area of present-day Ghana has experienced many population movements, the native and major Akan ethnic group of South Ghana today were firmly settled by the 10th century.[24] By the early 11th century, the Akans were firmly established in the South Ghana state called Bonoman, for which the Brong-Ahafo Region region is named.[25] The Dagomba states of North Ghana were established in the late 16th century.[24]

From the 13th century, numerous groups emerged from what is believed to have been the Bonoman area, to create several Akan States of South Ghana, mainly based on gold trading. These states included Bonoman (Brong-Ahafo region), Ashanti (Ashanti region), Denkyira (Central region), Mankessim Kingdom (Western region), and Akwamu (Eastern region and Greater Accra region).[24] By the 19th century; the South Ghana territory was included in the Empire of Ashanti, one of the most influential states in sub-saharan Africa prior to the onset of colonialism.[24] The Ashanti government operated first as a loose network, and eventually as a centralised kingdom with an advanced, highly specialised bureaucracy centred in Kumasi.[24] It is said that at its peak; the King of the Empire of Ashanti Asantehene could field 500,000 troops, and it had strong degree of military influence over all of its neighbours.[26][27]

Early European contact by the Portuguese, who came to Ghana in the 15th century to trade, focused on the extensive availability of gold.[28] The Portuguese first landed at an south coastal city, and named the place Elmina.[28] In 1481, King John II of Portugal commissioned Diogo d'Azambuja to build Elmina Castle, which was completed in three years.[28]

By 1598, the Dutch had joined them in gold trading, building forts at Komeda and Kormantsi.[29] In 1617, the Dutch captured the Olnini Castle from the Portuguese, and Axim in 1642 (Fort St Anthony). Other European traders had joined in gold trading by the mid-17th century, most notably the Danes, Swedes and English. English merchants, impressed with the gold resources in the area, named it the Gold Coast.[30]

Akan Empire of Ashanti army engaged in Warfare and Military Combat with the
British forces under the command of Coll. Sutherland, July 11th 1824.[31]

More than thirty forts and castles were built by the Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, Spanish and English merchants. The Gold Coast was known for centuries as 'The White Man's Grave', because many of the Europeans who went there died of malaria.[32]

Many wars occurred between the British colonial powers and the various Akan nation-states, and their continuous struggle against the British and Europeans in many wars. The Ashanti Kingdom defeated the British a few times, but eventually lost with the War of the Golden Stool in the early 1900s.[33][34][35] The Akans often resisted the policies of the British; however, moves toward independence intensified after World War II.[34]

1989: The Soviet Union's postage stamp marking the 80th anniversary of the birth of Dr.h.c. Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972). Leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966 and overseeing the nation's independence from United Kingdom in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and Prime Minister of Ghana as well as founding and leading the Convention People's Party in 1949.

In 1947, the newly formed United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) called for "self-government within the shortest possible time."[36] After rioting increased in 1948, the members of the UGCC were arrested, including future prime minister and president Kwame Nkrumah.[30] Nkrumah formed the Convention People's Party (CPP) with the motto "self-government now".[30] Nkrumah began a "Positive Action" campaign and gained the support of rural and working-class people. He was again imprisoned for being the leader of a party that caused boycotts, strikes and other forms of civil disobedience. After winning a majority in the Legislative Assembly in 1952, Nkrumah was released and appointed leader of government business.[30] After the Dutch withdrew in 1874, following conquest by the English in 1896 until declaration of independence in March 1957, the territory of modern Ghana, excluding the Volta Region (British Togoland), was known as the Gold Coast.[30]

Ghana is formed from the incorporated territorial entities of the Gold Coast, British Togoland and German Togoland in 1956, and in 1957, Ghana became the first to declare independence in sub-saharan Africa. On 6 March 1957 at 12 am Nkrumah declared Ghana "free forever".[30]

The flag of Ghana, consisting of the colours red, gold, green, and the black star, became the new flag in 1957. Designed by Theodosia Salome Okoh, the red represents the blood that was shed towards independence, the gold represents the mineral wealth of Ghana, the green symbolises the rich agriculture, and the black star is the symbol of African emancipation.[37]

Kwame Nkrumah, first Prime Minister, and then President of the modern Ghanaian state, as an anti-colonial leader, sought a united Africa that would not drift into neo-colonialism. He was the first African head of state to promote Pan-Africanism, an idea he came into contact with during his studies at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in the United States, at the time when Marcus Garvey was becoming famous for his "Back to Africa Movement." Nkrumah merged the teachings of Marcus Garvey and the naturalized Ghanaian scholar W. E. B. Du Bois into the formation of the modern-day Ghana. Ghana's principles of freedom and justice, equity and free education for all, irrespective of ethnic background, religion or creed, borrow from Nkrumah's implementation of Pan-Africanism.[30]

Cape Coast Castle
Independence Arch

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as he became known, played an instrumental part in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity, which was succeeded in 2002 by the African Union. His achievements were recognised by Ghanaians during his centenary birthday celebration, and the day was instituted as a public holiday. Dr. Nkrumah's government was subsequently overthrown by a military coup while he was abroad with Zhou Enlai in the People's Republic of China in February 1966. Former Central Intelligence Agency employee John Stockwell stated that the CIA had an effective hand in forcing the coup.[38]

A series of subsequent civilian government overthrows from 1966 to 1981 ended with the ascension to power of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings in 1981.[39] These changes resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981, and the banning of political parties.[40] The economy suffered a severe decline soon after, Kwame Darko negotiated a structural adjustment plan changing many old economic policies, and the economy began to recover.[40]

First President of the Republic of Ghana Nkrumah and Presidents of the 4th Republic of Ghana Rawlings; Kufuor; Mills and Mahama.

A new constitution restoring multi-party politics was promulgated in 1992; Rawlings was elected as president then, and again in 1996.[41] The constitution of 1992 prohibited him from running for a third term, so his party, the National Democratic Congress, chose his Vice-President, John Atta Mills, to run against the opposition parties. Winning the 2000 elections, John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party was sworn into office as president in January 2001, and beat Mills again in 2004, thus also serving two terms as president and thus marking the first time that power had been transferred to one legitimately elected leader, and securing Ghana's status as a stable democracy from 2001 to 2009.[41]

In January 2009, John Atta Mills took office as President of Ghana with a difference of about 40,000 votes (0.46%),[42] between his party, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.[43]

In 2011, John Atta Mills won the NDC congress when he ran against Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings for the National Democratic Congress flagbearership.[44] He won by 2,771 votes, representing 96.9% of the total votes cast.[44] On 24 July 2012, John Atta Mills died unexpectedly,[45] and Mills' vice-president John Dramani Mahama, was sworn in as Mills' replacement.[46] The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced that Mahama won the Ghana presidential election, 2012 on 7 December 2012 amidst announcement of electoral fraud and he was still sworn in again on 7 January 2013 with John Dramani Mahama serving a term of office that ends approximately on Saturday 7 January 2017.[47]

Geography and climate

Main articles: Geography of Ghana and Wildlife of Ghana
Beach in Ghana, and Lake Volta in Ghana is the largest reservoir in the world, extending from the Akosombo Dam in southeastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, some 400 kilometres (250 mi) to the north. The lake generates electricity, provides inland transport, and is a potentially valuable resource for irrigation and fish farming

Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea, only a few degrees north of the Equator, therefore giving it a warm climate.[48] Ghana spans an area of 238,535 km2 (92,099 sq mi), and has an Atlantic coastline that strecthes 560 kilometres (348 mi) on the Gulf of Guinea in Atlantic Ocean to its south.[48] Ghana lies between latitudes 4° and 12°N, and longitudes 4°W and 2°E; and the Prime Meridian passes through Ghana, specifically through the industrial port town of Tema.[48] Ghana is geographically closer to the "centre" of the world than any other country in the world; even though the notional centre, (0°, 0°) is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 614 km (382 mi) off the south-east coast of Ghana on the Gulf of Guinea.[49] Grasslands mixed with south coastal shrublands and forests dominate south Ghana, with forest extending northward from the south-west coast of Ghana on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean 320 kilometers (200 mi) and eastward for a maximum of about 270 kilometers (170 mi) with south Ghana being a primary location for mining of industrial minerals and timber.[48]

African Elephants at Mole National Park
Kakum National Park

Ghana encompasses plains, low hills, rivers, Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, Dodi Island and Bobowasi Island on the south Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana.[50] Ghana can be divided into four different geographical ecoregions; the coastline is mostly a low, sandy shore backed by plains and scrub and intersected by several rivers and streams while the northern part of Ghana features high plains.[51] South-west and south-central Ghana is made up of a forested plateau region consisting of the Ashanti uplands and the Kwahu Plateau; the hilly Akwapim-Togo ranges are found along Ghana's eastern international border.[52]

The Volta Basin takes up most of south-central Ghana and Ghana's highest point is Mount Afadjato which is 885 m (2,904 ft) and is found in the Akwapim-Togo ranges.[53][54] The climate is tropical and the eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, the south-west corner of Ghana is hot and humid, and the north of Ghana is hot and dry.[51] Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, extends through large portions of south-eastern Ghana and many tributary rivers such as the Oti and Afram rivers flow into it.[55] The northernmost part of Ghana is Pulmakong and the southernmost part of Ghana is Cape three points near Axim. Ghana lies between latitudes 4° and 12°N.[48]

South Ghana contains evergreen and semi-deciduous forests consisting of trees such as mahogany, odum, ebony and it also contains much of Ghana's oil palms and mangroves with shea trees, baobabs and acacias found in the northern part of Ghana.[48]

Gazelles in Ghana
Inflight Black-shouldered Kite in Ghana

The climate of Ghana is tropical and there are two main seasons in Ghana: the wet and the dry seasons.[56] North Ghana experiences its rainy season from March to November while South Ghana experiences its rainy season from April to mid-November.[56] The tropical climate of Ghana is relatively mild for its latitude.[56] The harmattan, a dry desert wind, blows in north-east Ghana from December to March, lowering the humidity and causing hot days and cool nights in northern part of Ghana.[56] Average temperatures range from 21°C to 28°C (70 to 82°F) with a relative humidity between 77 percent and 85 percent.[49] In the northern part of Ghana, there are two rainy seasons: April through June and September through November.[49] Squalls occur in the northern part of Ghana during March and April, followed by occasional rain until August and September, when the rainfall reaches its peak.[49] Rainfall ranges from 78 to 216 centimeters (31 to 85 inches) a year.[49]

Climate data for Ghana
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32
(90) 		32
(90) 		32
(90) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		29
(84) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		31
(88) 		31
(88) 		32
(90)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.5
(81.5) 		27.5
(81.5) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		27
(81) 		26
(79) 		25
(77) 		24
(75) 		26
(79) 		26
(79) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		28
(82)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23
(73) 		23
(73) 		24
(75) 		24
(75) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		22
(72) 		21
(70) 		22
(72) 		22
(72) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		21
(70)
Record low °C (°F) 15
(59) 		17
(63) 		20
(68) 		19
(66) 		21
(70) 		20
(68) 		19
(66) 		18
(64) 		20
(68) 		19
(66) 		21
(70) 		17
(63) 		15
(59)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 16
(0.6) 		37
(1.5) 		73
(2.9) 		82
(3.2) 		145
(5.7) 		193
(7.6) 		49
(1.9) 		16
(0.6) 		40
(1.6) 		80
(3.1) 		38
(1.5) 		18
(0.7) 		787
(30.9)
Average rainy days 2 2 5 7 11 14 7 6 8 9 4 2 77
Average relative humidity (%) 79 77 77 80 82 85 85 83 82 83 80 79 85
Mean monthly sunshine hours 214 204 223 213 211 144 142 155 171 220 240 235 2,372
Source: Climatemps.com[49]

Regions and districts

Main articles: Regions of Ghana and Districts of Ghana

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Ghana
John Dramani Mahama, elected 4th President of the 4th Republic of Ghana in December 2012.

The 2012 Failed States Index indicated that Ghana is ranked the 67th least failed state in the world and the 5th least failed state in Africa after Mauritius, 2nd Seychelles, 3rd Botswana, and 4th South Africa. Ghana ranked 112th out of 177 countries on the index.[57]

Ghana ranked as the 64th least corrupt and politically corrupt country in the world out of all 174 countries ranked and Ghana ranked as the 5th least corrupt and politically corrupt country in Africa out of 53 countries in the 2012 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index,[58] although political corruption in Ghana has been on the rise.[59] Ghana was ranked 7th in Africa out of 53 countries in the 2012 Ibrahim Index of African Governance. The Ibrahim Index is a comprehensive measure of African government, based on a number of different variables which reflect the success with which governments deliver essential political goods to its citizens.[60]

Government

Parliament House of Ghana seat of the Government of Ghana, the Supreme Court of Ghana and Judiciary of Ghana buildings, Osu Castle is the defacto residence of presidency and the Golden Jubilee House is the official residence and presidential palace.
Main article: Parliament of Ghana
See also: Elections in Ghana

Ghana was created as a parliamentary democracy at independence in 1957, followed by alternating military and civilian governments. In January 1993, military government gave way to the Fourth Republic after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution divides powers among a president, parliament, cabinet, council of state, and an independent judiciary. The government is elected by universal suffrage; however, the legislature is not proportionate, with low-population districts receiving more representatives per person than those with high populations.[61]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Ghana
See also: Regions of Ghana and Districts of Ghana

There are ten administrative regions of the Republic of Ghana which are divided into 6 metropolitan assemblies; 55 Municipal assemblies; and 216 districts,[62] each with its own district assembly.[62] Below districts are various types of councils, including 58 town or area councils; 108 zonal councils; and 626 area councils.[62] Sixteen thousand unit committees exist on the lowest level.[61] Ghana has 275 electoral constituencies.[62]

Judicial system

Main article: Judiciary of Ghana

The legal system is based on British common law, customary (traditional) law, and the 1992 constitution. Court hierarchy consists of Supreme Court of Ghana (highest court), courts of appeal, and high courts of justice. Beneath these bodies are circuit, magisterial, and traditional courts. Extrajudicial institutions include public tribunals.[61] Since independence, courts are relatively independent; this independence continues under the Republic. Lower courts are being redefined and reorganised under the Republic.[61]

Politics

Main article: Political parties in Ghana
Ghana presidential election, 2012 result according to the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
  National Democratic Congress
  New Patriotic Party

Political parties became legal in mid-1992 after a ten-year hiatus. There are 20 political parties under the Fourth Republic; the National Democratic Congress is successor to Jerry John Rawlings' original party Provisional National Defence Council and has been the incumbent government of Ghana for 32 years since 1981 to 2012.[61]

The New Patriotic Party of the Akan people in South Ghana was founded in 1992 and has been the incumbent government of Ghana for 8 years, and won presidential and parliamentary elections elections in 2000 and 2004; the People's National Convention, and the Convention People's Party is successor to Kwame Nkrumah's original party of the same name and has been the incumbent government of Ghana for 10 years, from declaration of independence in 1957 to 1966, and won elections in 1956, 1960, and 1965.[61]

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Ghana
See also: China–Ghana relations, Ghana–Russia relations, and Ghana–India relations
Kofi Annan

Since independence, Ghana has been devoted to ideals of nonalignment and is a founding member of the non-aligned movement. Ghana favours international and regional political and economic co-operation, and is an active member of the United Nations and the African Union.[63]

Many Ghanaian diplomats and politicians hold positions in international organisations. These include Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, International Criminal Court Judge Akua Kuenyehia, former President Jerry John Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kuffour who have both served as diplomats of the United Nations.[61]

In September 2010, Ghana's former President John Atta Mills visited China on an official visit. Mills and China's former President Hu Jintao, marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, at the Great Hall of the People on 20 September 2010.[64] China reciprocated with a visit in November 2011, by the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Zhou Tienong who visited Ghana and met with Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama.[65]

Military

Main article: Ghana Army
Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Military Technologies

In 1957, the Ghana Army consisted of its headquarters, support services, three battalions of infantry and a reconnaissance squadron with armoured cars. Total strength was approximately 5,700 men.[66] Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah wished to rapidly expand and Africanise the army to support his Pan-African, anti-colonial and the United States of Africa ambitions. Thus in 1961, 4th and 5th Battalions were established, and in 1964 6th Battalion was established, from a parachute unit originally raised in 1963.[67]


Today, Ghana is a regional power and regional hegemony and the Ghana Army are in military alliance with the People's Republic of China's People's Liberation Army.[68] Ghana has in the past contributed forces to numerous UN and African Union (AU) operations, including in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, and Liberia (ECOMOG and UNMIL).

Ghana also contributed UN peacekeepers in UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian Forces commander Roméo Dallaire gave the Ghanaian soldiers high credit for their work and effort in the conflict.[66]

Law enforcement and Police

Further information: Law enforcement in Ghana
Ghana Police Service in Mowag Piranhas and Armoured Fighting Vehicles

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is the main law enforcement agency of the Republic of Ghana and responsible for the detection of crime, maintenance of law and order and the maintenance of internal peace and security.[69] The Ghana Police Service has eleven specialized police units including a Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and Marine Police Unit (MPU).[70][71] The Ghana Police Service operates in twelve divisions: ten covering the ten regions of Ghana, one assigned specifically to the seaport and industrial hub of Tema, and the twelfth being the Railways, Ports and Harbours Division.[71] The Ghana Police Service's Marine Police Unit and Division handles issues that arise from the country's offshore oil and gas industry.[71]

The Ghana Prisons Service and the sub-division Borstal Institute for Juveniles administers incarceration in Ghana.[72] Ghana retains and exercises the death penalty for treason, corruption, robbery, piracy, drug trafficking, rape, and homicide.[73][74] 27 convicts (all men) were sentenced to death in Ghana in 2012 and the Ghana Prisons Service statistics of the total number of convicts sentenced to death in Ghana as at December 2012 was 162 men and 4 women,[73] with a total prison inmate population of 13,983 convicts as at 22 July 2013.[75]

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Ghana and Electricity sector in Ghana
Real GDP rate of growth of the Ghana economy in percentage. The Ghana economy recorded 14% growth in 2011 and was the highest GDP growths on the Africa continent and second highest in the world.

Ghana is a Middle Income Economy and is ranked as a Lower–Middle Income Economy by the World Bank and is an Emerging Economy.[76][77][78]

The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) is the third largest stock exchange in Africa after the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).[79]

The Ghana economy is resource rich and diverse with the exports of industrial minerals, cocoa, petroleum and natural gas,[80] and industries such as electricity generation, information and communications technology,[81] retailling and tourism being sources of foreign exchange.[82] The Akosombo Dam, which was built on the Volta River in 1965, Bui Dam, Kpong Dam with several other hydroelectric dams and renewable energy sources provides hydro-electricity and sustainable energy for Ghana.[83]

The Ghana economy is the 9th largest economy on the African continent with more than twice the per capita output of all the countries in West Africa excluding Nigeria,[84][85] and Ghana has the 85th largest economy in the world by Nominal GDP. Known for its gold, South Ghana was the world's 7th largest producer of gold in 2012; producing 102 metric tons of gold and the 10th largest producer of gold in the world in 2012; producing 89 metric tons of gold.[86] South Ghana is also the 2nd largest producer of cocoa in the world,[18][87] and other exports such as crude oil, natural gas, timber, electricity, diamond, bauxite,[88] and manganese are major sources of foreign exchange, but despite possessing a great abundance of industrial minerals and natural resources, Ghana is yet to reach newly industrialised country status after 56 years of independence.

In July 2013, International Enterprise Singapore (IE) Singapore opened its 38th global office in Accra, Ghana to develop trade and investment on logistics, oil and gas, aviation, transportation and consumer sectors.[89] Singapore and Ghana also signed four bilateral agreements to promote public sector and private sector collaboration, as Ghana aims to predominantly shift its economic trade partnership to East Asia and Southeast Asia and Ghana aims to emulate and replicate the rapid economic growth of Singapore.[89] The economic centre is IE Singapore's second office in Africa, coming six months after opening in Johannesburg, South Africa in January 2013.[89]

The public square and tourism site Independence square

Tourism is a rapidly growing sector with tourist arrivals at 950,000 and earnings of US$ 1.8 billion from tourism in 2010.[90] Ghana's tourist arrivals rose to 1,087,000 million in 2011 and earnings of US$ 2 billion from tourism in 2011, contributing to 6% of the Ghana GDP in 2011.[91] UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Castles and Forts including Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, natural landscapes and national parks such as Kakum National Park and Mole National Park, as well as public squares such as Independence square and cultural celebrations such as Panafest are major centres of tourist activity.[92]

Ghana top richest 20 percent of the population
wealth owned and distribution of wealth

The value added tax is a consumption tax administered in Ghana. The tax regime which started in 1998 had a single rate but since September 2007 entered into a multiple rate regime. In 1998, the rate of tax was 10% and amended in 2000 to 12.5%. However with the passage of Act 734 of 2007, a 3% VAT Flat Rate Scheme (VFRS) began to operate for the retail distribution sector. This allows retailers of taxable goods under Act 546 to charge a marginal 3% on their sales and account on same to the VAT Service. It is aimed at simplifying the tax system and increasing compliance.[93]

Ghana economical inflation rate of change in percentage

Ineffective economic policies of past military and incumbent government have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. In July 2007, the Bank of Ghana embarked on a currency re-denomination exercise, from the cedi (₵) to a new currency, the Ghana Cedi (GH₵). The transfer rate was 1 Ghana Cedi for every 10,000 cedis. The new Ghana Cedi in 2009 was relatively stable and generally exchanged at a rate of US$1 = GH₵1.4[94]

Ghana's labour force in 2008 totalled 11.5 million people.[94][94] The domestic economy revolves around services, which in 2012 accounted for 50% of GDP and employed 28% of the work force in 2011 and Manufacturing accounted for 27.3% of GDP and provided employment for 20% of the work force in 2011.[82] Agriculture accounted for 22.7% of GDP and provided employment for 52% of the work force in 2011.[82] The Government of Ghana unemployment figure is at 3% in 2012.[95]

The Ghana economy is projected to reach US$114.564 billion purchasing power parity and US$4,155 GDP per capita in 2016.[5]

Real estate

A middle-class luxury villa house with swimming pool development in East Ridge

The real estate and housing market of Ghana has become an important and strategic economic sector, particularly in the urban centers of South Ghana such as Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema.[96][97][98] Kumasi is growing at a faster rate than Accra, and there is less competition in its real estate market.[96] The gross rental income tax of Ghana is withheld at 10%, capital gains are taxed at 15% with a 5% gift tax imposed on the transfer of properties and Ghana’s real estate market is divided into 3 areas: public sector real estate development, emerging private sector real estate development, and private individuals.[96][97] The activities of these 3 groups are facilitated by the Ghanaian banks and the primary mortgage market which has demonstrated enormous growth potential.[97][97] Recent developments in the Ghanaian economy has given birth to a boom in the construction sector, including the housing and public housing sector generating and injecting millions of dollars annually into the Ghanaian economy.[96][97] The real estate market investment perspective and attraction comes from Ghana's tropical location and robust political stability.[96][97] An increasing number of the Ghanaian populace are investing in properties and the Ghana government is empowering the private sector in the real estate direction.[96][97]

In July 2013, a real estate and public housing construction investment agreement between Ghana and Singapore was enacted and plans are underway for the construction of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and apartment blocks in the cities of Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and among other cities in Ghana.

Industrial minerals and mining

A large, sharp, equant, translucent, yellow, spinel-twinned or macle twinned Diamond from South Ghana (Super macle twinned Diamond); and a couple of inclusions add character to this thick, lustrous crystal.

Other than industrial minerals and exports from South Ghana such as timber, diamonds, bauxite, and manganese, South Ghana also has a great deposit of barites; basalts; clays; dolomites; feldspars; granites; gravels; gypsums; iron ores; kaolins; laterites; limestones; magnesites; marbles; micas; phosphates; phosphorus; rocks; salts; sands; sandstones; slates; and talcs that are yet to be fully exploited.[99][100]

Oil and gas reserves

Commercial quantities of offshore oil reserves in South Ghana were discovered in the 1970s. In 1983 the government established the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to promote exploration and production, and the company reached agreements with a number of foreign firms. These permitted Amoco to prospect in ten offshore blocks between Ada along the eastern international border of Ghana. Petro-Canada International had prospected in the Tano River Basin, and Diamond Shamrock in the Keta Basin. In 1989, US$30 million was spent drilling wells in the Tano basin, and on 21 June 1992, an offshore Tano basin well produced about 6,900 barrels (1,100 m3) of crude oil daily.[101] In the early 1990s, GNPC reviewed all earlier crude oil and natural gas discoveries to determine whether a predominantly local operation might make exploitation more commercially viable. GNPC wanted to set up a floating system for production, storage, off-loading, processing, and gas-turbine electricity generation, hoping to produce 22 billion cubic feet (620,000,000 m3) per day, from which 135 megawatts of power could be generated and fed into the national and regional grid. GNPC also signed a contract in 1992 with Angola's state oil company, Sonangol Group, that provides for drilling and, ultimately, production at two of Sonangol's offshore oilfields. GNPC was paid with a share of the crude oil.[101]

The Tema Oil Refinery in South Ghana underwent the first phase of a major rehabilitation in 1989. The second phase began in April 1990 at an estimated cost of US$36 million. Once rehabilitation was completed, distribution of liquified petroleum gas was to be improved, and the quantity supplied was to rise from 28,000 to 34,000 barrels per day. Construction on the new Tema-Akosombo oil products pipeline, designed to improve the distribution system further, began in January 1992. The pipeline was to carry refined products from Tema to Akosombo Port, where they will be transported across Lake Volta to northern regions. Distribution continued to be uneven, however. Other measures to improve the situation included a US$28 million project to set up a national network of storage depots in all regions.[101] The Tema Lube Oil Company commissioned its new oil blending plant, designed to produce 25,000 tons of oil per year, in 1992. The plant was to satisfy both North Ghana and South Ghana's requirements for motor and gear lubricants and 60% of the country's need for industrial lubricants, or, in all, 90% of Ghana's demand for lubricant products. Shareholders included Mobil, Shell, and BP (together accounting for 48% of equity), Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).[101]

South Ghana's Jubilee Oilfield which is reported to contain up to 3 billion barrels (480,000,000 m3) of sweet crude oil was discovered in 2007, among the many other oilfields in South Ghana.[102] Oil and gas exploration in South Ghana is ongoing, and the amount of both crude oil and natural gas continues to increase.[103] The expected annual US$4 billion tremendous inflow of capital from crude oil and natural gas production into the Ghana economy began from the first quarter of 2011 when the country started producing crude oil and natural gas in commercial quantities with Ghana annually receiving US$500 million.[104] The crude oil accounted for 6% of the revenue for 2011. In the first and second financial quarters of 2013, South Ghana produced 115,000-200,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 140 million-200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.[104] The National Iranian Oil Company, Iranian Offshore Oil Company, Singapore Petroleum Company, Vetro Energy and PetroSeraya of Singapore have declared interests in investing and developing South Ghana's oil and gas infrastructure and industry as South Ghana aims to further increase output of oil to 2 million barrels per day and gas to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day.[105] [106]

South Ghana is believed to have up to 5 billion barrels (790,000,000 m3) of oil in reserves,[107] which is the sixth largest in Africa and the 25th largest proven reserves in the world and South Ghana has up to 4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in reserves.[108]

Seaport and exports

Main articles: Tema Harbour and Takoradi Harbour
Container ships and Merchant ships being loaded and unloaded at the Intermodal freight transport of Tema Port.

Tema Port in South Ghana, officially opened in 1962, is the bigger of the two seaports in Ghana, and is Africa's largest manmade harbour. It has a water-enclosed area of 1.7 square kilometres (0.66 sq mi) and a total land area of 3.9 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi).[109] Apart from handling goods for Ghana, it is also a traffic junction, where goods are transhipped, and transit cargo destined for the landlocked countries to the north of Ghana.[109]

The port of Tema handles the majority of the nation's import and export cargo and most of the country's chief exports is shipped from Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema.[109] The port of Tema has 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of breakwaters, 12 deepwater berths, an outsize oil tanker berth, a dockyard, warehouses, and transit sheds. The port has open and covered areas for the storage of cargo, including a 77,200-m² (7.72-hectare) paved area for the storage of containers, steel products and other conventional cargo.[109] The port's container yard is capable of holding over 8,000 TEUs at any given time. The closed storage area, which is about 25,049 m² (2.51 hectares) in area, consists of six sheds with a total storage capacity of 50,000 tonnes of cargo. The port also includes a 100,000 dwt dry dock and slipway facility.[109] The Tema and Takoradi harbours in South Ghana are operated by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

New media and telecommunications

Main articles: New media in Ghana and Telecommunications in Ghana
A Ghanaian using a Tablet Computer

New Media in Ghana has implemented relative liberal policies towards the Internet, new communications technologies, and New Media use is rising in Ghana.[110][111] New Media content creation, publishing, digital distribution and consumption via internet-enabled digital devices (digital electronics) have increased.[110][111] In 2002, Ghana's ICT Development Committee created a forward-thinking Information and communications technology (ICT) strategy (Information and communication technologies for development) called the Information and Communications Technology For Accelerated Development project (ICT4AD).[110] The strategy consisted of a three-phase approach: first, the committee members came up with a framework for what they would like to achieve; next, they developed a set of policies that would help them reach that goal and finally, they delineated exactly how those policies could be implemented.[110] After the completion of all three phases, they took their findings to the Cabinet and Parliament of Ghana in 2003.[110] The recommendations were subsequently approved, which cleared the way for the government to implement several e-learning, e-government and national-based IT initiatives in 2012; the Ghana Open Data Initiative and National Information Technology Agency (NITA) in 2008, as well as a national ICT infrastructure roll-out.[110] This good planning has had a positive effect on the development of ICT-based business and general high ICT usage in Ghana: 2002 - 2005 saw a nearly nine-fold increase in the usage of mobile phones and personal computers, as well as the birth of an Information technology (IT) industry (including call-centers and some computer manufacturing) and industrial technology.[110]

Ghana mobile phone and smart phone use activity

In November 2011, Ghanaian business incubators and entrepreneurs David Osei, Kamil Nabong and Philips Effah, founded Dropifi, an application software that helps businesses sort customer feedback on the internet.[112] About 20 months later in July 2013, Dropifi application software company has become the first African company to join the 500 Startups program, a Silicon Valley-based seed accelerator and investment fund.[112] Dropifi started at the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology in Accra (Meltwater Group).[112] Dropifi application software helps business monitor customer feedback and it analyzes demographics, industry trends and the emotions behind the messages, to help companies respond effectively to customers.[112] It also taps into social media platforms so companies can have a broader customer reach.[112] Dropifi application software company in July 2013 had over 6,000 clients in more than 30 countries worldwide and is currently focused on technology international market.[112]

Science and technology

Ghana access to information and communition technologies.
Ghana internet surfing activities.

Innovations and HOPE City

HOPE City is a technology park to be built and based in Ghana.[113] HOPE City is being undertaken by Ghanaian information and communications technology company Rlg Communications.[114] HOPE City is an acronym for Home, Office, People and Environment.[114] The HOPE City project is expected to be completed in 2016 and is estimated to cost $US 10 billion in construction;[114] and one of its towers will become Africa's tallest building.[114] HOPE City will host a cluster of buildings and telecommunications facilities to serve as an Information and Communications Technology Park.[113][114]

Space programs and Space CanSat

The Ghana Space Science and Technology Centre (GSSTC) and Ghana Space Agency (GhsA) oversees the space exploration and space programs of Ghana and GSSTC and GhsA officials are to have an national security observational satellite launched into orbit in 2015.[115][116] The CanSat satellite technology and space program is spearheaded by the All Nations University (ANU) in Koforidua and CanSat as envisioned can be used e.g. in predicting weather and monitoring natural resources, and national security.[116] The CanSat Space Satellite is to be launched into orbit in 2015.[116]

Ghana's annual space exploration expenditure has been 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) for support research in science and technology and in 2012 Ghana was elected to chair the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Comsats) and Ghana has a joint effort in space exploration with South Africa's South African National Space Agency (SANSA).[115]

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Ghana

Rail transport

Further information: Railway stations in Ghana
Railway Map of Ghana Showing Dates of Construction

The Ghana railway network occupies a total rail route length and rail track length of 947 km and 1300 km and they are national rail lines that do not go to outside of Ghana and the Ghana national border.[117] Ghana railway network is limited to south Ghana and the southern part of Ghana within the Greater Accra region, Central region, Western region, Eastern region and Ashanti region of south Ghana.[117] There are plans underway that revamp the operations of the Ghana Railway Corporation and Ghana Railway Company to make it more viable, and to attract private sector participation.[117] Concession agreements have been signed by the Ghana Railway Corporation for the development and extension of the Ghana Eastern Rail Line and the rehabilitation of the Ghana Western Rail Line.[117] The major rail routes in Ghana are the Ghana Eastern Rail Line that connects Kumasi to Koforidua, and the Ghana Western Rail Line that connects Kumasi to Sekondi-Takoradi, Sunyani and Cape Coast.[117] In 2010, Ghana Railway Corporation began a US$6 billion rail project at the construction of the Ghana rail infrastructure to Ghana High-Speed Rail (abbreviated GHSR or HSR) and to upgrade all of Ghana's railway line network has been planned and to be completed at the end of 2014 with construction managed by the China Railway High-Speed (CHR) and the Chinese National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC).[118]

Road transport

Further information: Ghana Road Network
Dual Carriageway with an Stop Sign in Akosombo, Eastern region, Ghana.
Traffic Circle in Greater Accra, Ghana.

The Ghana road network is 64,323 km and road transportation is the most dominant choice of transportation in Ghana.[119] Road transport infrastructure in Ghana can be used throughout to facilitate the exchange of commodities and enable regular school attendance and fast access to health facilities in Ghana.[119] There has been an increased investment and expansion in the road transportation of Ghana, US$500 million in 2012.[120] There is a Ghanaian Bus Rapid Transit, known as Metro mass Transit L.T.D, and a Taxicab system connecting the Ghanaian big cities among themselves, and a Minibuses system, known as Tro Tros, connecting big cities with the country's rural areas and small towns.[119] The Ghana Police Service's Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) and the Ghana Highways Authority is responsible for the maintenance of the Road Traffic Control of Ghana and the Ghana Road Network (Ghana national highways and motorways).[121]

Marine transport

See also: Rivers in Ghana
Water taxis on Volta Lake in Ghana

Ghana's Volta River, Ankobra River, and Tano River provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters, and Volta Lake provides 1,125 kilometres of arterial and feeder waterway.[122] There are two main seaports in Ghana which are located in the southern coastal cities of Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema (Takoradi Harbour and Tema Harbour).[119] The strategic geographical location of Ghana to the Volta Lake and the many rivers of Ghana that provide inland transport make Ghana a very transited sovereign state for freighters.[123] Inland water transport in Ghana includes the movement of passengers by ferry or water taxis and cargo on rivers, lakes and other water bodies in Ghana and Ghana has a ferry transportation system on Volta Lake at Yeji and Kwadjokrom.[123] The Volta Lake is the major inland water transport facility that is efficiently regulated to transport passengers and cargo.[123] The main transport service provider on the Volta Lake is the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTC).[119] The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Ghana Railway Corporation and the Volta River Authority collectively have oversight responsibility over the Volta Lake and the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTC).[119]

Air transport

See also: Airports in Ghana
DC-10 of the Ghana Airways

The first Ghanaian flag carrier was the Ghana Airways which commenced operations in 1958 then ceased operations in 2005 and was succeeded by the Ghana International Airlines in 2005. Ghana has an vibrant airline industry and there are four main airports in Ghana: Kotoka Intermational Airport in Greater Accra, Kumasi International Airport in Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi Airport in Western Ghana, and Sunyani Airport in Sunyani. In addition, Ghana has a total of 8 airports, of which the most transited is the Kotoka International Airport located in Accra, with a transit in 2009 of 1.2 million passengers.[124] After the cessation of operations of Ghana International Airlines in 2010, major airlines of Ghana are Africa World Airlines, Antrak Air, CTK – CiTylinK and Starbow Airlines which fly to domestic destinations in Ghana and to main flight points of the African continent.[125][126][127][128] In 2010, Ghana planned for the revival of Ghana Airways to commence commercial aviation.[129]

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Ghana and Ghanaian people
Ghana Population pyramid 2012, according to the Ghana Statistical Service 2010 Ghana population census released in 2012.

   Male (Man)

   Female (Woman)

Ghana has a reported population of about 24 million people, of whom 15 million (60%) are citizens (Ghanaians) while there are 1.5 million (6%) registered legal skilled workers (permanent residents) or foreign workers/students (i.e. Ghana card holders) with an annually 1.5 million transited tourists/airport layovers and Ghana's first post-independence population census, in 1960, counted about 6.7 million inhabitants.[130] The median age of Ghanaians is 30 years old and the average household size is 3.6 persons. 99% of the population of Ghana are African people.[131] The native and largest ethnic group of South Ghana is Akan. 13.5 million of the population are ethnic Akans in South Ghana.[131][132] The official language is English and is spoken by 90% of the population; however, 75% of the population also speak the Akan language.

The minority African peoples in Ghana are: Ewe (Population: 2,200,000) in Volta,[133] Ga-Adangbe (Population: 1,022,144),[134][135] and Dagaaba (Population: 657,973),[136] Dagomba (Population: 618,101),[137] Gonja (Population: 354,567),[138] and Kassena (Population: 161,000),[139] in North Ghana; and Ghanaian Chinese or Han Chinese (Population: 750,000),[140] Ghanaian Indians or Indian (Population: 10,000),[141] Afro-Asians or Coloured (Population: 58,000),[142] White African/White Ghanaians (Population: 20,900),[143] and Lebanese/Syrian/Arab/Afro-Arab or Ghanaian Arabs (Population: 69,500),[144] comprise 3.68%–4% of the population of Ghana.

There is a Government of Ghana and Ghana Immigration Service estimated population of 6 million (24%) aliens and Illegal immigrants in Ghana and in 1969 under the "Ghana Aliens Compliance Order" (GACO) enacted by the Ghanaian Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia;[145] Ghana deported over 3 million aliens and illegal immigrants in 3 months as they made up 20% of Ghana's population at the time.[145][146]

Urbanization

See also: List of largest Settlements in Ghana (by population)

Template:Largest cities of Ghana

Languages

Main article: Languages of Ghana
Ghanaian languages
  Kwa (75%)
  Gur (13.3%)
  Gbe (10.7%)
  Other (1%)

English is the country's official language and predominates in government and business affairs. It is also the standard language used for educational instruction. Native Ghanaian languages are divided into African language families of the Niger–Congo languages. The Kwa family, which is spoken by about 75% of the country's population, includes Akan, Ga and Adangbe (Ga–Adangbe) and Nzema, and they are spoken primarily in south Ghana and in the southern half of the country and along the Volta river. Once included in Kwa, Ewe is included in Gbe, and is spoken in Volta. The Gur family includes Dagbani (Dagomba), Dagaare (Dagaaba), Kasem (Kassena), Gonja and they are predominantly spoken in north Ghana. Nine languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: Akan, Dagomba (Dagbani), Dangme (Adangbe), Dagaare (Dagaaba), Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem (Kassena), and Nzema.[3][147]

Since 2007, all university and high-school institutions in Ghana provide Chinese language (Mandarin language) courses. This initiative reflected China's growing role as a superpower and Ghana's close ties with China.[148]

Religion

Main article: Religion in Ghana
Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Kumasi

Christianity is the country's largest religion, and predominates in areas of south Ghana and parts of north Ghana, while Islam is more widespread in parts of the northern regions. Christianity is practised by 71.2% of the population, according to the 2010 census.[149] Christianity was introduced by Europeans on the coast of Ghana in the 14th century.[150]

Islam is the faith of 17.6% of the population.[149] It was introduced to northern Ghana in the 15th century.[151] Christian–Muslim relations in Ghana are peaceful, tolerant and bilateral.[152]

The 2010 census reported that 5.3% of Ghanaians declare no religious affiliation.[149]

Traditional religion is practised by 5.2% of the population, according to the 2010 census.[149] Hinduism is administered by Ghana's Hindu Monastery, headed by Swami Ghananand Saraswati.[153] Hinduism has an increasing following along with Taoism and Buddhism.[154] There are small numbers of other faiths in Ghana, including Ninchiren Shoshu Sōka Gakkai, Shintoism, and Judaism–House of Israel (Ghana).[155]

Health

Main articles: Health in Ghana and National Health Insurance Scheme
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi

Ghana has a universal health care system, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),[156] and life expectancy at birth is 66 years with males at 64 years and females at 67 years,[157] and infant mortality is at 39 per 1000 live births.[158] The total fertility rate is about 3.57 children per woman. There are about 15 physicians and 93 nurses per 100,000 persons.[159] 5.2% of the country's GDP was spent on health in 2010,[160] and all Ghanaian citizens have access to primary health care 60% of the Ghana population.[161] Ghana's universal health care system has been described as the most successful healthcare system on the Africa continent by the renowned business magnate and tycoon Bill Gates.[161] Attempts to further improve the healthcare system in Ghana are believed to have been hampered by a high rate of corruption within the Ghana Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).[162]

Culture

MBE J. E. Casely Hayford
Main article: Culture of Ghana
See also: Orders, decorations, and medals of Ghana

Ghana is an ethnically diverse country that is predominantly influenced by the ancient Kingdoms of the Akan. Ghanaian culture is a mixture of the cultures of the Ghanaian people. Ghana's cultural diversity is most evident in Ghanaian cuisine and clothing.[163]

Literature

The Ghanaian national literature and Voices of Ghana is one of the oldest in the entire Africa continent.[164][165] The most prominent Ghanaian authors are novelists; J. E. Casely Hayford and Ayi Kwei Armah, who reached international success from the most famous works, The Beautiful Unborn and Osiris Rising.[164] In addition to the novels, other literature arts such as Ghanaian theatre and Ghanaian poetry have also had a very good development at the Ghanaian national level with prominent Ghanaian novelists Joe de Graft and Efua Sutherland.[164]

Clothing

Main article: Kente cloth

Kente is a very important Ghanaian national costume and clothing and these cloths are used to make traditional and modern Ghanaian Kente attire.[163] Different symbols and different colours mean different things.[163] Kente is the most famous of all the Ghanaian cloths.[163] Kente is an ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom and strips measuring about 4 inches wide are sewn together into larger pieces of cloths.[163] Cloths come in various colours, sizes and designs and are worn during very important social and religious occasions.[163] In a cultural context, kente is more important than just a cloth and it is a visual representation of history and also a form of written language through weaving.[163] The term kente has its roots in the Akan word kɛntɛn which means a basket and the first kente weavers used raffia fibres to weave cloths that looked like kenten (a basket); and thus were referred to as kenten ntoma; meaning basket cloth.[163] The original Akan name of the cloth was nsaduaso or nwontoma, meaning "a cloth hand-woven on a loom"; however, "kente" is the most frequently used term today.[163]

Music and dance

Main articles: Music of Ghana, Azonto, and Kpanlogo
Ghana Cultural Dance Group performing Ghanaian dance forms and wearing the Ghanaian kente cloth clothing; and Ghana drummers.

The music of Ghana is diverse and varies between different ethnic groups and regions. Ghanaian music incorporates several distinct types of musical instruments such as the talking drum ensembles, Akan drum, goje fiddle and koloko lute, court music, including the Akan atumpan, the Ga kpanlogo styles, and log xylophones used in asonko music. The most well known genres to have come from Ghana are Afro-jazz which was created by Ghanaian artist Kofi Ghanaba.[166] and its earliest form of secular music is called highlife. Highlife originated in the late 19th century and early 20th century and spread throughout West Africa. In the 1990s a new genre of music was created by the youth incorporating the influences of highlife, Afro-reggae, dancehall and hiphop. This hybrid was called Hiplife. Ghanaian artists such as R&B and soul singer Rhian Benson and highlife singer Kojo Antwi and Amakye Dede have had international success.[163]

Ghanaian dance is as diverse as its music, and there are traditional dances and different dances for different occasions.[163] The most known Ghanaian dances are those for celebrations. Some of these dances include Adowa, Kpanlogo, Azonto, Klama, and Bamaya.[163]

Architecture

See also: Ghana’s material cultural heritage
Ghanaian postmodern architecture and high-tech architecture

There are two types of Ghanaian traditional construction; The series of adjacent buildings in an enclosure around a common are common and the traditional round huts with grass roof.[167] The round huts with grass roof architecture are in the Ghanaian northern regions, while the series of adjacent buildings are in the Ghanaian southern regions.[167] Ghanaian postmodern architecture and high-tech architecture buildings are predominant in the Ghanaian southern regions, while the Ghanaian heritage sites are most evident by the more than thirty forts and castles built in Ghana. Some of these forts are Fort William and Fort Amsterdam.[167]

Ghanaian cuisine

Main article: Ghanaian cuisine
Banku & Grilled Tilapia and Roasted delicacy (Ghanaian cuisines)

Ghanaian cuisine is diverse, and includes an assortment of soups and stews with varied seafoods and most Ghanaian soups are prepared with vegetables, meat, poultry or fish.[168] Fish is important in the Ghanaian diet with tilapia, roasted and fried whitebait, smoked fish and crayfish all being common components of Ghanaian dishes.[168]

Banku is a common Ghanaian starchy food made from ground corn (maize),[168] and cornmeal based staples, dokonu (kenkey) and banku are usually accompanied by some form of fried fish (chinam) or grilled tilapia and a very spicy condiment made from raw red and green chillies, onions and tomatoes (pepper sauce).[168] Banku and tilapia is a combo served in most Ghanaian restaurants.[168]

Media

Main article: Media of Ghana
Ghana mass media, news and information provided by television

The media of Ghana is one of the most free in Africa. Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of the press and independence of the media, while Chapter 2 prohibits censorship.[169] Post independence, the government and media often had a tense relationship, with private outlets closed during the military governments and strict media laws that prevent criticism of government.[170] The media freedoms were restored in 1992, and after the election in 2000 of John Agyekum Kufuor the tensions between the private media and government decreased. Kufuor was a supporter of press freedom and repealed a libel law, though maintained that the media had to act responsibly.[171] The Ghanaian media has been described as "one of the most unfettered" in Africa, operating with little restriction on private media. The private press often carries criticism of government policy.[172] The media were vigorous in their coverage of the 2008 Ghanaian presidential election, and the Ghanaian Journalists Association (GJA) praised John Atta Mills on his election, hoping to foster a good media-government relationship.[173]

Sports

See also: Ghana at the Winter Olympics and Ghana at the Olympics

Sport in Ghana began in 1952 when Ghana first competed in its first olympic games as Gold Coast and competed in the Winter Olympics in 2010 for the first time, Ghana qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics, scoring 137.5 International Ski Federation points, within the qualifying range of 120-140 points.[174] Ghanaian skier, Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, nicknamed "The Snow Leopard", became the first Ghanaian to take part in the Winter Olympics, at the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, Canada,[175] taking part in the slalom skiing.[176]

Ghana finished 47th out of 102 participating nations, of whom 54 finished in the Alpine skiing slalom.[177][178] Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong broke on the international skiing circuit, being the second black African skier to do so.[179]

Ghanaian athletes have won a total of four Olympics medals in thirteen appearances at the Summer Olympics, three in boxing, and a bronze medal in association football, and thus became the first country on the Africa continent to win a medal at association football.[180]

The country has also produced quite a few quality boxers, including Azumah Nelson a three-time world champion, Nana Yaw Konadu also a three-time world champion, Ike Quartey, and Joshua Clottey.[163]

Ghanaian winter sports olympic team at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
File:Pacquiao-Clottey.jpg
International Boxing Federation welterweight champion and World Boxing Council Continental Americas champion Joshua Clottey before a fight with Manny Pacquiao for contention of the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
100 metres runner Vida Anim sprinting at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Association football is administered by the Ghana Football Association and the national men's football team is known as the Black Stars, with the under-20 team known as the Black Satellites. Ghana has participated in many championships including the African Cup of Nations with 4 titles, the FIFA World Cup twice and the FIFA U-20 World Cup with 1 title. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ghana became the third African country to reach the quarter-final stage of the World Cup after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.[181] Ghana national U-20 football team, known as the Black Satellites, is considered to be the feeder team for the Ghana national football team. Ghana is the first and only country on the Africa continent to be crowned FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions and two-time runners up in 1993 and 2001. The Ghana national U-17 football team known as the Black Starlets are two-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions in 1991 and 1995, two-time runners up in 1993 and 1997.[163]

Ghanaian football teams Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak SC are the 5th and 9th best football teams on the Africa continent and have won a total of five Africa continental association football and Confederation of African Football trophies; Ghanaian football club Asante Kotoko SC has been crowned two-time CAF Champions League winners in 1970, 1983 and five-time CAF Champions League runners up, and Ghanaian football club Accra Hearts of Oak SC has been crowned 2000 CAF Champions League winner and two-time CAF Champions League runners up, 2001 CAF Super Cup champions and 2004 [[CAF Confederatcenter>Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Kumasiion Cup]] champions.[182] The International Federation of Football History and Statistics crowned Asante Kotoko SC as the African club of the 20th century.[182] There are several club football teams in Ghana that play in the Ghana Premier League and Division One League, both administered by the Ghana Football Association.[163]

Education

Main article: Education in Ghana

Nursery, kindergarten and education structure

Ghana Kindergarten school students

One of the largest challenges facing Ghana is still the fact that the older population that were born prior to 1980 often lacks education, which has held back Ghana's economic growth; the adult literacy rate in Ghana was 71.5% in 2010, with males at 78.3% and females at 65.3%.[183]

The youth female and male ages 15–24 years literacy rate in Ghana was 81% in 2010, with males at 82%,[184] and females at 80%.[185]

Ghanaian children begin their education at the age of three or four starting from nursery school to kindergarten, then elementary school (primary school), high school (junior high school and senior high school) and finally university. The average age at which a Ghanaian child enters primary school is 6 years.[186]

Ghana has a 6-year primary school education system beginning at age six, and, under the educational reforms implemented in 1987 and reformed in 2007, they pass on to a 3-year junior high school system. At the end of the third year of junior high, there is a mandatory "Basic Education Certificate Examination". Those continuing must complete the 4 -year senior high school program (which has been changed to three years) and take an admission exam to enter any university or tertiary programme. The Ghanaian education system from nursery school up to an undergraduate degree level takes 20 years.[187]

In 2005, Ghana had 12,130 primary schools, 5,450 junior secondary schools, 503 senior secondary schools, 21 public training colleges, 18 technical institutions, two diploma-awarding institutions and 6 universities.[188][189]

Elementary

Further information: List of schools in Ghana
Ghana Elementary school students and school school teachers

Most Ghanaians have relatively easy access to primary and secondary education. These numbers can be contrasted with the single university and handful of secondary and primary schools that existed at the time of independence in 1957. Ghana's spending on education has varied between 28–40% of its annual budget in the past decade. All teaching is done in English, mostly by qualified Ghanaian educators.[187]

The courses taught at the primary or basic school level include English, Ghanaian language and culture, mathematics,

environmental studies, social studies, Mandarin and French as an OIF associated-member; as further languages are added,[190] integrated or general science, pre-vocational skills and pre-technical skills, religious and moral education, and physical activities such as Ghanaian music and dance, and physical education.[187]

High school

Further information: List of senior secondary schools in Ghana
Ghana High school Students of the Accra Academy; Learning Science and undertaking Scientific tests in Science Laboratory.

The senior high level school curriculum has core subjects and elective subjects of which students must take four the core subjects of English language, mathematics, integrated science (including science, agriculture and environmental studies) and social studies (economics, geography, history and government).[187]

The high school students also choose 4 elective subjects from 5 available programmes: agriculture programme, general programme (arts or science option), business programme, vocational programme and technical programme.[187] Apart from most primary and secondary schools which choose the Ghanaian system of schooling, there are also international schools such as the Takoradi International School, Tema International School, Galaxy International School, The Roman Ridge School, Lincoln Community School, Faith Montessori School, American International School, Association International School, New Nation School, SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College and International Community School, which offer the International Baccalaureat, Advanced Level General Certificate of Education and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).[188]

University

Further information: List of universities in Ghana
Front view of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) North Campus in Winneba.
Ghana University students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, February 2011.

There are eight national public universities in Ghana, the University of Ghana (ranked 1,561), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (ranked 3,459), University of Cape Coast (ranked 3,620), University of Education (ranked 5,053), University for Development Studies (ranked 6,696), University of Mines and Technology (ranked 8,508), University Of Energy And Natural Resources and University of Health and Allied Sciences.[191] Ghana also has a growing number of accredited private universities including Ghana Telecom University College (ranked 8,541), Ashesi University College (ranked 5,957), Methodist University College Ghana (ranked 9,051), Central University College (ranked 8,455), Regent University College of Science and Technology (ranked 6,676) and Valley View University (ranked 6,705).[192]

Main entrance to the University of Ghana's Balme Library in Accra.

The oldest university in Ghana; the University of Ghana, was founded in 1948. It had a total of 29,754 students in 2008. Its programmes in the Arts, Humanities, Business, and the Social Sciences, as well as Medicine are one of the best in the country.

The University of Ghana has seen a shift of its traditionally best students to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.[193] Since Ghana's independence, the country has been one of the most educational in sub-saharan Africa. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been chancellor of the University of Ghana since 2008.[193]

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; the second university to be established in Ghana, is the premier university of science and technology in Ghana and West Africa.[187]

Enrollment

Ratio of females to males in education system.
Females and males out of education system.

With over 95% of its children in school, Ghana currently has one of the highest school enrolment rates in all of Africa.[186][194] The ratio of females to males in the total education system was 96.38%, in 2011.[195] That said, some 470,000 children remained out of school in 2011 because of corruption, which had led to resource constraints in building schools, providing adequate textbooks and training new teachers.[196]

National symbols

Tawny Eagle on the Coat of arms of Ghana

The coat of arms depicts two animals: the tawny eagle (Aquila rapax, a very large bird that lives in the savannas and deserts; 35% of Ghana’s landmass is desert, 35% is forest, 30% is savanna) and the lion (Panthera leo, a big cat); a ceremonial sword, an heraldic castle on an heraldic sea, a cocoa tree and a mine shaft representing the industrial mineral wealth of Ghana, and a five-pointed black star rimmed with gold representing the mineral gold wealth of Ghana and the lodestar of the Ghanaian people.[197] It also has the legend Freedom and Justice.[197]

The flag of Ghana consists of three horizontal bands (strips) of red (top), gold (middle) and green (bottom); the three bands are the same height and width; the middle band bears a five-pointed black star in the centre of the gold band, the colour red band stands for the blood spilled to achieve the nation's independence: gold stands for Ghana's industrial mineral wealth, and the color green symbolizes the rich tropical rainforests and natural resources of Ghana.[197][198]

International rankings

The following are links to international rankings of Ghana.

Index Rank Countries reviewed
Environmental Performance Index 2012 91st 132
Pilot Trend Environmental Performance Index 2012 28th 132
Global Gender Gap Report Global Gender Gap Index 2012 71st 135
Global Innovation Index (INSEAD) 2012 92nd 141
Human Development Index 2012 135th 187
Happy Planet Index 2012 86th 151
Sustainable Society Index 2012 52nd 153
Global Peace Index 2012 50th 158
Economic freedom 2012 77th 185
Ease of doing business index 2012 63rd 185

According to speedtest.net Ghana has the 5th fastest Internet download and upload speeds on the Africa continent and the 94th fastest Internet download and upload speeds in the world out of 184 listed with an average download speed of 5.68 Mbit/s and upload speed of 3.88 Mbit/s.[199]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ /ˈɡɑːnə/ ⓘ, officially the Republic of Ghana

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Further reading

  • Arhin, Kwame, The Life and Work of Kwame Nkrumah (Africa Research & Publications, 1995)
  • Babatope, Ebenezer, The Ghana Revolution: From Nkrumah to Jerry Rawlings (Fourth Dimension Publishing, 1982)
  • Birmingham, David, Kwame Nkrumah: Father Of African Nationalism (Ohio University Press, 1998)
  • Boafo-Arthur, Kwame, Ghana: One Decade of the Liberal State (Zed Books Ltd, 2007)
  • Briggs, Philip, Ghana (Bradt Travel Guide) (Bradt Travel Guides, 2010)
  • Clark, Gracia, African Market Women: Seven Life Stories from Ghana (Indiana University Press, 2010)
  • Davidson, Basil, Black Star: A View of the Life and Times of Kwame Nkrumah (James Currey, 2007)
  • Falola, Toyin and Salm, Stephen J, Culture and Customs of Ghana (Greenwood, 2002)
  • Grant, Richard, Globalizing City: The Urban and Economic Transformation of Accra, Ghana (Syracuse University Press, 2008)
  • Hadjor, Kofi Buenor, Nkrumah and Ghana (Africa Research & Publications, 2003)
  • Hasty, Jennifer, The Press and Political Culture in Ghana (Indiana University Press, 2005)
  • James, C.L.R., Kwame Nkrumah and the Ghana Revolution (Allison & Busby, 1977)
  • Kuada, John and Chachah Yao, Ghana. Understanding the People and their Culture (Woeli Publishing Services, 1999)
  • Miescher, Stephan F, Making Men in Ghana (Indiana University Press, 2005)
  • Milne, June, Kwame Nkrumah, A Biography (Panaf Books, 2006)
  • Nkrumah, Kwame, Ghana : The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah (International Publishers, 1971)
  • Utley, Ian, Ghana – Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Kuperard, 2009)
  • Various, Ghana: An African Portrait Revisited (Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2007)
  • Younge, Paschal Yao, Music and Dance Traditions of Ghana: History, Performance and Teaching (Mcfarland & Co Inc., 2011)
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