Ghana

presidential republic

name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Akan word nkran , meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century

chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025) head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); the president is both chief of state and head of government most recent election date: 7 December 2024 election results: 2024: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president in the first round; percent of vote- John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.5%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPC) 41%, other 2.5% 2020: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020) expected date of next election: 7 December 2028

legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 276 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/7/2024 parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 14.5% expected date of next election: December 2028

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals

history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025) note: the GAF also has a Medical Service/Corps

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025) note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 15% of the military; Ghanaian women first began serving in the late 1950s

the military s primary missions are border defense, assisting with internal security, peacekeeping, and protecting the country s territorial waters, particularly its offshore oil and gas infrastructure; it has benefited from cooperation with foreign partners, such as the UK and the US, and experience gained from participation in multiple international peacekeeping missions in recent years, Ghana has expanded the Army and reinforced its presence in the northern part of the country to shore up porous borders, interdict smuggling routes, and counter threats from the terrorist organization Jama at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups which has a considerable presence in Burkina Faso and has conducted attacks in Cote d'Ivoire and Togo; Ghana has also made efforts to increase the Navy's capabilities to protect its maritime claims and counter threats such as piracy and illegal fishing (2025)

875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025) note: since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions

$243.124 billion (2024 est.) $230.046 billion (2023 est.) $223.043 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$7,100 (2024 est.) $6,800 (2023 est.) $6,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

5.7% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

22.8% (2024 est.) 38.1% (2023 est.) 31.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

$25.365 billion (2023 est.) $25.52 billion (2022 est.) $23.901 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$26.024 billion (2023 est.) $26.329 billion (2022 est.) $25.967 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

3.1% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $19.102 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum

cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 35,336,133 (2025 est.) male: 17,278,776 female: 18,057,357

2.12% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197) 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577)

27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.) male: 68.4 years female: 71.8 years

urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)

Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.) note: English is the official language

Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

total population: 76.5% (2021 est.) male: 81.3% (2021 est.) female: 72.1% (2021 est.)

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

refugees: 17,334 (2024 est.) IDPs: 4,937 (2024 est.)

11 (2025)

total: 947 km (2022) narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

total: 52 (2023) by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41

total subscriptions: 39.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.)

percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)