Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.gh
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
59,086 (2012) country comparison to the world: 93
Internet users [time series]
1.297 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 93
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra domestic: competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
285,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 120
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
25.618 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 42
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Budget [time series]
revenues: $10.56 billion expenditures: $14.87 billion (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-9.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Central bank discount rate [time series]
18% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 8 17% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
27% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 22.8% (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
-$5.149 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 -$4.778 billion (2012 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$14.68 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $12.64 billion (31 December 2012 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: 62 40.7 (1999)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Ghana's economy has been strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels. In late 2010, Ghana was recategorized as a lower middle-income country. 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 producing close to target levels. Additional oil projects are being developed and are expected to come on line in a few years. Estimated oil reserves have jumped to almost 700 million barrels and Ghana’s growing oil industry is expected to boost economic growth as the country faces the consequences of two years of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency. President MAHAMA faces challenges in managing a population that is unhappy with living standards and that perceives they are not reaping the benefits of oil production because of political corruption.
Exchange rates [time series]
cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 2.018 (2013 est.) 1.796 (2012 est.) 1.431 (2010 est.) 1.409 (2009) 1.1 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$13.37 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $13.54 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products
Exports - partners [time series]
France 13.6%, Italy 12.4%, Netherlands 8.9%, China 7.4%, Germany 4.3% (2012)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$45.55 billion (2013 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$90.41 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $83.79 billion (2012 est.) $77.64 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 64.2% government consumption: 14.2% investment in fixed capital: 31.7% investment in inventories: 0.7% exports of goods and services: 50.2% imports of goods and services: -61% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 21.5% industry: 28.7% services: 49.8% (2013 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$3,500 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $3,400 (2012 est.) $3,200 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
7.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 7.9% (2012 est.) 15% (2011 est.)
Gross national saving [time series]
21.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 17.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 17.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)
Imports [time series]
$18.49 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $17.76 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
capital equipment, refined petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners [time series]
China 25.6%, Nigeria 11%, US 7%, Netherlands 6.2%, Singapore 4.5%, UK 4.1%, India 4% (2012)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
10.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Industries [time series]
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
11% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 9.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force [time series]
12.07 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (2005 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$3.465 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $3.097 billion (31 December 2011) $3.531 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
28.5% (2007 est.)
Public debt [time series]
53.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 50% of GDP (2012 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$6.016 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $5.705 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money [time series]
$12.59 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $12.17 billion (31 December 2012 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]
$13.31 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $12.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$6.256 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $6.153 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Unemployment rate [time series]
11% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
9.005 million Mt (2011 est.)
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Crude oil - imports [time series]
32,060 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Crude oil - production [time series]
79,630 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
660 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Electricity - consumption [time series]
5.311 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - exports [time series]
1.036 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
40.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
59.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Electricity - imports [time series]
106 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
1.985 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - production [time series]
8.213 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
120 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - imports [time series]
830 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 60
Natural gas - production [time series]
50 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
61,590 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
9,977 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
37,240 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
22,130 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Geography
total: 238,533 sq km country comparison to the world: 82 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 885 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: 48.82 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 by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi)
Irrigated land [time series]
309 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 2,420 km border countries: Burkina Faso 602 km, Cote d'Ivoire 720 km, Togo 1,098 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 20.12% permanent crops: 11.74% other: 68.14% (2011)
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 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 (2011)
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]
several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993; amended 1996 (2012)
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 Gene A. CRETZ (since 11 September 2012) embassy: 24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] 30-2741-000 FAX: [233] 30-2741-389
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Amma Adamaa Twum AMOAH, Charge d'Affaires (since 11 February 2014) 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 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); 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, extended to 8 December because of technical difficulties (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 (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; 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 [time series]
constitutional democracy
Independence [time series]
6 March 1957 (from the UK)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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, MINUSMA, 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 [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 12 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 upon 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
Legal system [time series]
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
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(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana"
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
National symbol(s) [time series]
black star; golden eagle
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Convention People's Party or CPP [Samia NKRUMAH] National Democratic Congress or NDC [John Dramani MAHAMA] New Patriotic Party or NPP [Paul AFOKO] People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN] note - listed are four of the more popular political parties as of December 2012; there are more than 20 registered parties
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 won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state, but he died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election.
Military
Manpower available for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 6,268,191 females age 16-49: 6,194,339 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 4,136,406 females age 16-49: 4,220,761 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 267,896 female: 260,992 (2010 est.)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force (2012)
Military expenditures [time series]
0.27% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 129 0.25% of GDP (2011) 0.27% of GDP (2010)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative (2012)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 4,988,823/female 4,943,451) 15-24 years: 18.7% (male 2,403,526/female 2,426,076) 25-54 years: 33.8% (male 4,228,326/female 4,480,090) 55-64 years: 4.8% (male 599,510/female 633,688) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 489,566/female 565,052) (2014 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
31.4 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 1,806,750 percentage: 34 % (2006 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
14.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 53
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
23.5% (2008)
Death rate [time series]
7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 71.6 % youth dependency ratio: 65.6 % elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 % potential support ratio: 16.8 (2014 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 92.5% of population rural: 81.3% of population total: 87.2% of population unimproved: urban: 7.5% of population rural: 18.7% of population total: 12.8% of population (2012 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
8.1% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 13
Ethnic groups [time series]
Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande-Busanga 1.1%, other 1.6% (2010 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
1.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
11,600 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
235,800 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
4.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 147
Hospital bed density [time series]
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 38.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 58 male: 42.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 34.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 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 (includes English (official)) 36.1% (2000 census)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 65.75 years country comparison to the world: 172 male: 63.38 years female: 68.19 years (2014 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.5% male: 78.3% female: 65.3% (2010 est.)
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, dengue fever, and yellow fever 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 (2013)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
ACCRA (capital) 2.573 million; Kumasi 2.019 million (2011)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 32
Median age [time series]
total: 20.8 years male: 20.4 years female: 21.3 years (2014 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
21.8 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian
Net migration rate [time series]
-2.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
7.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 140
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
25,758,108 country comparison to the world: 49 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 2014 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.19% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Religions [time series]
Christian 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 census)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 19.9% of population rural: 8.4% of population total: 14.4% of population unimproved: urban: 80.1% of population rural: 91.6% of population total: 85.6% of population (2012 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2012)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.09 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 16.6% country comparison to the world: 78 male: 16.4% female: 16.7% (2000)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 51.9% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
disputed maritime border between Ghana and 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): 9,567 (Cote d'Ivoire; flight from 2010 post-election fighting); 5,249 (Liberia) (2013)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
10 (2013) country comparison to the world: 156
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 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 4 country comparison to the world: 131 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)
Pipelines [time series]
gas 394 km; oil 20 km; refined products 361 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Takoradi, 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: 109,515 km country comparison to the world: 43 paved: 13,787 km unpaved: 95,728 km (2009)
Waterways [time series]
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