GHANA

Ghana Country Profile

Ghana is a country with a reputation for being one of the friendliest in Africa. With unspoiled beaches, natural attractions, and vibrant cosmopolitan cities. Ghana is a country with a rich ethnic diversity, abundant historical legacies, a strong cultural heritage, and diverse traditions. Visitors to Ghana can expect to be greeted by a sense of history and met with exceptional hospitality that has long been associated with its people.

Geography: Ghana, situated on the western coast of Africa, shares borders with three French-speaking nations: Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Togo to the east, and Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) to the north. To the south are the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.

With a total area of 109,472 square miles, Ghana is about twice the size of the state of New York. The topography of Ghana is varied, comprising tropical forests, savannahs, mountains, and coastal ranges.

While much of Ghana is rural, many metropolitan areas, including Accra, the capital city, have an estimated population of 4 million, and Kumasi, which has an estimated population of 3.5 million.

Economy: Ghana is well endowed with natural resources, including gold, oil, and bauxite. Agriculture accounts for roughly one-third of Ghana’s GDP and employs more than half of the workforce. In addition, the economy is based on manufacturing, automotive, and ship construction, and is a commercial and business hub for West Africa.

The Currency The Ghanaian Cedi is the currency of Ghana. The currency code for the Ghanaian cedi is GHS, and the symbol is GH¢. The cedi to dollar exchange rate changes frequently. You will be able to exchange dollars for cedis when you arrive in Ghana at the prevailing rate at that time. There is no limit on the amount of cash you bring into Ghana, but you must declare any amounts over $10,000. Lesser amounts do not need to be declared.

Language: Ghana's official language is English, and all school children learn it early in life. Therefore, you should not have difficulty communicating with locals and thoroughly enjoy every aspect of your stay in Ghana.

Government: The constitution of Ghana was adopted in 1992, establishing a constitutional democratic government consisting of three branches: The Executive, Parliament, and the Judiciary.

Ghana is divided into sixteen regions. The President, Vice President, and members of Parliament are elected by popular vote. Elections are held once every four years.
Current President: His Excellency John Dramani Mahama
Current Vice-President: Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang

History: The country now known as Ghana has a long and rich history. Its history includes great kingdoms and ancient empires. Before the Europeans arrived in search of gold, the west coast of Africa was part of an ancient trade route. In 1471, Portuguese traders came ashore in search of gold. People from Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Britain followed the Portuguese in search of gold. However, after the discovery of the Americas, the trade quickly changed to human cargo and lasted for over 300 years of the transatlantic slave trade.

Ghana was the epicenter of the transatlantic slave trade. Of the approximately 66 forts and dungeons built along the coast of West Africa to warehouse captured Africans during this infamous trade, 44 were located in Ghana.

After the British took control of the Gold Coast, it was declared a colony of the British Empire. In 1957, the Gold Coast gained its independence from Britain and became known as Ghana.

Climate: The weather is generally warm and comparatively dry along the southeast coast, hot and humid in the southwest, and hot and dry in the north. Ghana's climate is tropical, but temperatures vary according to the season and elevation. The temperature variations, both annually and daily, are minor. The average daily temperature is 86°F.

The coolest time of year is between June and September when the main rainfall occurs; the temperature ranges during this period between 73°F and 84°F.
Ghana enters its dry season in November, with reduced rainfall and warm temperatures. In southern areas like Accra, daytime temperatures average 86°F and nighttime lows are around 79°F.