Ghana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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| National motto: Freedom and Justice | |||||
| Official language | English (official), others | ||||
| Capital | Accra | ||||
| Capital's coordinates | 5° 33' N, 0° 15' W | ||||
| (optionally) Largest City | Accra | ||||
| President | John Kufuor | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 77th 238,540 km² 3.5% | ||||
| Population
- Total (Year) - Density | Ranked 50th
19,533,560 82/km² | ||||
| GDP (PPP)
- Total (Year) - GDP/head | Ranked 73rd
$41,250 million $2,000 | ||||
| Currency | Cedi | ||||
| Time zone | UTC, no (DST) | ||||
| Independence | 6 March 1957, from the United Kingdom | ||||
| National anthem | Hail the Name of Ghana | ||||
| Internet TLD | .GH | ||||
| Calling Code | 233 | ||||
| Table of contents |
|
2 Politics 3 Regions 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links |
History
Main article: History of Ghana Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the British Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Ghana Ghana is a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. Its head of state is an elected president (currently John Agyekum Kufuor) with executive power. The Parliament of Ghana is unicameral and dominated by two main parties, the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress.
Regions
Main article: Regions of Ghana Ghana is divided into 10 regions Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West Ghana, Volta, Western
Geography
Main article: Geography of Ghana The capital is Accra.
Other cities:
- Asamankese
- Bolgatanga
- Cape Coast
- Ho
- Kumasi
- Nwasam
- Takoradi
- Tamale
- Tarkwa
- Tema
Economy
Main article: Economy of Ghana Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 40% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Ghana
Culture
Main article: Culture of Ghana
- Music of Ghana
- List of writers from Ghana
Miscellaneous topics
External links
| Commonwealth of Nations |
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| Africa |
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| Other areas |
| Canary Islands | Ceuta, Melilla, and other Spanish possessions | Madeira Islands | Mayotte | Reunion | Saint Helena | Western Sahara |