Country Summary: Ghana (Republic of Ghana)
Country Name: Ghana (Republic of Ghana)
Capital: Accra
Government Type: presidential republic
Background: Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, however, little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of Akan power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and contested for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. 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, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader.
Ghana endured a 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 of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.
Continent: Africa
Population: 33,846,114 (2023 est.)
Ethnic Groups: 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.)
Languages: 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
Religions: 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.)
Economic Overview: West African trade and agrarian economy; COVID-19 reversed nearly 4 decades of continuous growth; major diamond, gold, cocoa, and oil exporter; high public debts; financial and energy sector reform programs adding to fiscal pressures; high remittances
Currency: Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $9.917 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $183.459 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Real GDP Growth Rate: 3.08% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per Capita: $5,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Exports:
$25.744 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 82
Export Commodities: gold, crude petroleum, cocoa products, cashews, manganese (2021)
Export Partners: Switzerland 23%, United Arab Emirates 12%, China 12%, India 9%, Netherlands 5% (2020)
Imports:
$26.329 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 85
Import Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, rice, delivery trucks, iron (2020)
Import Partners: China 42%, Netherlands 5%, United States 5%, India 5%, United Arab Emirates 3% (2020)
Natural Resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Agricultural Products: cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, cocoa, oranges, pineapples
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Industrial Production Growth Rate:
0.93% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Comparison Ranking: 150
Labor Force: 14.549 million (2022 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 3.52% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Natural Hazards: dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Geography:
Total: 238,533 sq km
Land: 227,533 sq km
Water: 11,000 sq km
(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)
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