Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is a nation of western Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso in the north, Togo to the east, and borders the Gulf of Guinea to its south. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Republic of Ghana

\n\n\n\n\n\n (In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Freedom and Justice
Official language	English (official), others
Capital	Accra
Capital's coordinates	5° 33' N, 0° 15' W
Largest City	Accra
President	John Agyekum Kufuor
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 77th 238,540 km² 3.5%
Population \n  - Total (Year) \n  - Density	Ranked 50th\n 19,533,560 \n 82/km²
GDP (PPP) \n  - Total (Year) \n  - GDP/head	Ranked 73rd\n $41,250 million \n $2,000
Currency	Cedi
Time zone	UTC, no (DST)
Independence\n	6 March 1957, from the United Kingdom
National anthem	Hail the Name of Ghana
Internet TLD	.GH
Calling Code	233

Table of contents

1 Name 2 History 3 Politics 4 Economy 5 Regions 6 Geography 7 Demographics 8 Culture 9 Miscellaneous topics 10 External links

Name

Upon achieving independence from Great Britain, the name "Ghana" was chosen for the new nation—a reference to the Ghana Empire of earlier centuries. This name is mostly symbolic, as the old Ghanan Empire was not located anywhere near modern-day Ghana.

History

\nMain 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

\nMain 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.

• List of Presidents of Ghana\n* List of political parties in Ghana

Economy

\nMain 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.

Regions

\nMain 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

\n\nMain article: Geography of Ghana The capital is Accra. Other cities:

• Asamankese\n*Bolgatanga\n*Cape Coast\n*Ho\n*Kumasi\n*Nwasam\n*Takoradi\n*Tamale\n*Tarkwa\n*Tema

Demographics

\nMain article: Demographics of Ghana

Culture

\nMain article: Culture of Ghana

• Music of Ghana\n*List of writers from Ghana

Miscellaneous topics

\n* Communications in Ghana\n* Transportation in Ghana\n* Military of Ghana\n* Foreign relations of Ghana

External links

\n* Wiktionary entry for 'Ghana'\n* http://www.ghanaweb.com/ Category:African countries\nCategory:Western Africa \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n