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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gh

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

23,850 (2009) country comparison to the world: 97

Internet users [time series]

997,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of 50 per 100 persons and rising domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2008)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

143,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 134

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

11.57 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 53

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

7 (2007)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.256 billion expenditures: $7.492 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

17% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 18 13.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

Current account balance [time series]

-$3.471 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 -$1.717 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.055 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $4.891 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

39.4 (2005-06) country comparison to the world: 65 40.7 (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold and cocoa production, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around agriculture, which accounts for about 35% of GDP and employs about 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. 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. Thematic priorities under its current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which also provides the framework for development partner assistance, are: macroeconomic stability; private sector competitiveness; human resource development; and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with high prices for gold and cocoa helped sustain GDP growth in 2008.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.702 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - exports [time series]

249 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

435 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.746 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Exchange rates [time series]

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004) note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis

Exports [time series]

$5.275 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $4.172 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticulture

Exports - partners [time series]

Netherlands 13.5%, Ukraine 11.8%, UK 8%, France 5.7%, US 5.2% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$16.65 billion (2008 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$34.52 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $32.17 billion (2007 est.) $30.27 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 37.3% industry: 25.3% services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$1,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 $1,400 (2007 est.) $1,300 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 6.3% (2007 est.) 6.4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$10.26 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $8.066 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

China 15.6%, Nigeria 14.7%, India 7.4%, US 5.5%, France 4.4%, UK 4.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

16.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 10.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

32.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force [time series]

10.12 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$3.394 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 $2.38 billion (31 December 2007) $3.233 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 173

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75

Oil - consumption [time series]

56,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Oil - exports [time series]

4,843 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Oil - imports [time series]

45,380 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Oil - production [time series]

7,399 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Population below poverty line [time series]

28.5% (2007 est.)

Public debt [time series]

53.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 58.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.028 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.831 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$4.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $2.179 billion (31 December 2006)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $2.174 billion (31 December 2006)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 238,533 sq km country comparison to the world: 81 land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate [time series]

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Coastline [time series]

539 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%) per capita: 44 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

Irrigated land [time series]

310 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,094 km border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 17.54% permanent crops: 9.22% other: 73.24% (2005)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Total renewable water resources [time series]

53.2 cu km (2001)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Capital [time series]

name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

approved 28 April 1992

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald G. TEITELBAUM 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adolphus K. ARTHUR 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 [time series]

chief of state: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament 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 7 December 2008 with a second round held 28 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012) election results: John Evans Atta MILLS elected president in run-off election; percent of vote - John Evans Atta MILLS 50.23%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 49.77%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; 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 [time series]

constitutional democracy

Independence [time series]

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF (associate member), OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (230 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 114, NPP 107, PNC 2, CPP 1, independent 4, other 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Convention People's Party or CPP [Ladi NYLANDER]; Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Alhaji Abudu Rahman ISSAKAH]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTEY]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter MAC-MANU]; People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU]; United Renaissance Party or URP [Charles WAYO]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,802,096 females age 16-49: 5,729,939 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 3,849,113 females age 16-49: 3,840,083 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 272,954 female: 266,186 (2009 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.8% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 37.3% (male 4,503,331/female 4,393,104) 15-64 years: 59.1% (male 7,039,696/female 7,042,208) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 393,364/female 460,792) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

28.58 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Death rate [time series]

9.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 54

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

1.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

260,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 51.09 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 50 male: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 59.85 years country comparison to the world: 184 male: 58.98 years female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.9% male: 66.4% female: 49.8% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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)

Median age [time series]

total: 20.7 years male: 20.5 years female: 21 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Population [time series]

23,832,495 country comparison to the world: 47 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 (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.882% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Religions [time series]

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.68 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 50% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

11 (2009) country comparison to the world: 155

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 136 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

oil 5 km; refined products 309 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Tema

Railways [time series]

total: 947 km country comparison to the world: 91 narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 62,221 km country comparison to the world: 72 paved: 9,955 km unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Waterways [time series]

1,293 km country comparison to the world: 58 note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2008)