Background:

History

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. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John Kufuor, who defeated former Vice President John Atta-Mills in a free and fair election, succeeded him.

Population:

22,409,572

Age structure (2006 est.):

• 0-14 years: 38.8% (male 4,395,744/female 4,288,720)
• 15-64 years: 57.7% (male 6,450,828/female 6,483,781)
• 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 371,428/female 419,071)

Median age (2006 est.):

Estimates take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS, lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.

• Total: 19.9 years
• Male: 19.7 years
• Female: 20.1 years

Ethnic groups:

African 98.5% (includes Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)

Religions:

Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21%

Major infectious diseases:

HIV/AIDS:

• Adult prevalence rate: 3.1% (2003 est.)
• People living with HIV/AIDS: 350,000 (2003 est.)
• Deaths: 30,000 (2003 est.)

Food or Waterborne diseases:

Bacterial and Protozoal diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid fever.

Vectorborne diseases:

• Malaria and Yellow fever are high risks in some locations.
• Water contact disease: Schistosomiasis
• Respiratory disease: Meningococcal Meningitis (2007)

Geography

Location:

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

Area

• Total: 239,460 sq km
• Land: 230,940 sq km
• Water: 8,520 sq km
• Comparitive: slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate:

Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along the Southeast coast; hot and humid in the Southwest; hot and dry in the North.

Natural Resources:

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

Land Use:

• Arable Land: 17.54%
• Permanent crops: 9.22%
• Other: 73.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:

310 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

Dry, dusty, northeastern Harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts.

Environment – current issues:

Recurrent drought in the North severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water.