Ghana

Broadcast media

state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately-owned TV stations and a large number of privately-owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code

.gh

Internet hosts

59,086 (2012) country comparison to the world: 93

Internet users

1.297 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 93

Telephone system

general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra domestic: competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 80 per 100 persons and rising international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, Main One, and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

284,700 (2011) country comparison to the world: 119

Telephones - mobile cellular

21.166 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 46

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $8.375 billion expenditures: $10.74 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Central bank discount rate

18% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 8 17% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

25.1% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 18.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$4.559 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 -$3.675 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$11.23 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $9.712 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.4 (2005-06) country comparison to the world: 64 40.7 (1999)

Economy - overview

Ghana's economy has been strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels. Ghana is well endowed with natural resources and agriculture accounts for roughly one-quarter of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. The services sector accounts for 50% of GDP. Gold and cocoa production and individual remittances are major sources of foreign exchange. Oil production at Ghana's offshore Jubilee field began in mid-December, 2010, and is expected to boost economic growth. President MILLS faces challenges in managing new oil revenue while maintaining fiscal discipline and resisting debt accumulation. Estimated oil reserves have jumped to almost 700 million barrels. 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. In 2009 Ghana signed a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF to improve macroeconomic stability, private sector competitiveness, human resource development, and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with higher prices for oil, gold and, cocoa helped sustain high GDP growth in 2008-12.

Exchange rates

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.815 (2012 est.) 1.512 (2011 est.) 1.431 (2010 est.) 1.409 (2009) 1.1 (2008)

Exports

$13.58 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $12.79 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products

Exports - partners

France 19.1%, Netherlands 10.2%, US 8.6%, Italy 8.1%, UK 4.7%, India 4.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$40.12 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$83.18 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $76.89 billion (2011 est.) $67.22 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 24.6% industry: 27.4% services: 47.9% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $3,200 (2011 est.) $2,800 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

8.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 14.4% (2011 est.) 8% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$17.52 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $15.97 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 20.4%, Nigeria 12.4%, US 7.8%, India 5.6%, Netherlands 5.1%, UK 4.2% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 8.7% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Labor force

11.67 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.097 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 90 $3.531 billion (31 December 2010) $2.508 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

28.5% (2007 est.)

Public debt

47.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 38.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.888 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $5.805 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$11.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $11.79 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$10.18 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $10.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.042 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $5.925 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Unemployment rate

11% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

10.58 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Crude oil - exports

14,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Crude oil - imports

43,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Crude oil - production

72,580 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Crude oil - proved reserves

660 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - consumption

6.122 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - exports

752 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity - from fossil fuels

40.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

59.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - imports

198 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.985 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - production

8.764 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - consumption

120 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - imports

120 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - proved reserves

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Refined petroleum products - consumption

61,590 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Refined petroleum products - exports

7,275 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Refined petroleum products - imports

24,390 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Refined petroleum products - production

27,260 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Area

total: 238,533 sq km country comparison to the world: 82 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 885 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 by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi)

Irrigated land

340 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 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)

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 Gene CRETZ embassy: 24 4th Circular Rd. Cantonments, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 741-000 FAX: [233] (21) 741-389

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel Ohene AGYEKUM chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012); note - President MAHAMA assumed office due to the death of former president John Atta MILLS and subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election; the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012); note - President MAHAMA assumed office due to the death of former president John Atta MILLS and subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016) election results: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president; percent of vote - John Dramani MAHAMA 50.7%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 47.7%, other 1.6%

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom note: 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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; High Court; Court of Appeal; regional tribunals

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote in single-seat constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 7 and 8 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 47.5%, NDC 46.4%, PNC 0.6%, independent 2.5%, other 3.0%; seats by party - NDC 151, NPP 120, PNC 1, independent 3

National anthem

name: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, once when a republic was declared in 1960 and again after a 1966 coup

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

National symbol(s)

black star; golden eagle

Political parties and leaders

Convention People's Party or CPP [Samia NKRUMAH]; Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Obed Yao ASAMOAH]; Democratic People’s Party or DPP [T.N. WARD BREW]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Henry GIDI]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [vacant]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Nii Armah JOSIAH-AYEH]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Jake OBETSEBI-LAMPEY]; People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; National Reform Party [Peter KPORDUGBE]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Kofi 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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 6,268,191 females age 16-49: 6,194,339 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,136,406 females age 16-49: 4,220,761 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 267,896 female: 260,992 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force (2012)

Military expenditures

1.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 86

Military service age and obligation

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.9% (male 4,815,972/ female 4,773,335) 15-64 years: 57.1% (male 6,889,967/ female 7,179,274) 65 years and over: 4% (male 463,962/ female 529,892) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

32 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 57

Death rate

7.7 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 46

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

1.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

HIV/AIDS - deaths

18,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

260,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Health expenditures

10.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 24

Hospital bed density

0.93 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 59 male: 45.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 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 (includes English (official)) 36.1% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.45 years country comparison to the world: 188 male: 60.22 years female: 62.73 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.3% male: 73.2% female: 61.2% (2010 census)

Major cities - population

ACCRA (capital) 2.269 million; Kumasi 1.773 million (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 32

Median age

total: 21.7 years male: 21.4 years female: 21.9 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate

-0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Physicians density

0.085 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

24,652,402 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 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

Population growth rate

2.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

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)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 18% of population rural: 7% of population total: 13% of population unimproved: urban: 82% of population rural: 93% of population total: 87% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2009)

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: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.15 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Urbanization

urban population: 51% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

disputed maritime border between Ghana and 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,585 (Liberia); 16,000 (Cote d'Ivoire; flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2011)

Airports

10 (2012) country comparison to the world: 156

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 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 133 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1 km; oil 5 km; refined products 312 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Takoradi, 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: 71 paved: 9,955 km unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Waterways

1,293 km (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) (2011) country comparison to the world: 57