Ghana

 

Ghana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the modern country of Ghana. For the Ghana Empire (c. 790–1076) northwest of modern Ghana, see Ghana Empire. For other uses, see Ghana (disambiguation).

Republic of Ghana
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Freedom and Justice"
Anthem:  God Bless Our Homeland Ghana [1] vocal God Bless Our Homeland Ghana Menu 0:00
National seal Government logo
Location of  Ghana  (red)
Capital		Accra 5°33′N 0°12′W
Official languages		English (official) 21.3%[2]
National language Indigenous language		Akan (lingua franca) 83.9%
Ethnic groups (2010[3])		47.5% Akan 16.6% Mossi and Dagomba 13.9% Ewe   7.4% Ga-Adangbe   1.1% Mande 13.5% other
Demonym		Ghanaian
Government		Unitary presidential constitutional democracy
-	President	John Dramani Mahama
-	Vice-President	Kwesi Amissah-Arthur
Legislature		Parliament
Independence from the United Kingdom
-	Declared	6 March 1957
-	Realm	6 March 1957 – 1 July 1960
-	Republic	1 July 1960
-	Current constitution	28 April 1992
Area
-	Total	238,535 km2 (82nd) 92,099 sq mi
-	Water (%)	4.61 (11,000 km2 / 4,247 mi2)
Population
-	2010 estimate	24.2 million[4]
-	Density	101.5/km2 (103rd) 258.8/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2014 estimate
-	Total	$97.5 billion[5]
-	Per capita	$3,718.4[5]
GDP (nominal)		2014 estimate
-	Total	$50 billion[5]
-	Per capita	$1,902.9[5]
HDI (2013)		0.558[6] medium · 135th
Currency		Ghana cedi (GH₵) (GHS)
Time zone		GMT (UTC+0)
Drives on the		right
Calling code		+233
ISO 3166 code		GH
Internet TLD		.gh
Map of the Gulf of Guinea showing Ghana and its 2,093 kilometer international borders.
Republic of Ghana portal

Ghana (ⁱ/ˈɡɑːnə/), officially called the Republic of Ghana, is a sovereign multinational state and unitary presidential constitutional democracy, located along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, in the subregion of West Africa in Africa. The country is bordered by the Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, Togo in the east and the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean in the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King".^[7]
Prior to colonization by the British empire in the early-20th century in 1902, Ghana was the site of numerous kingdoms and empires; the greatest being the Akan Kingdom of Ashanti.^[8] In 1957, it became the first African nation to declare independence from European colonization.^[9][10][11] This made Ghana the symbol of Black achievement, helped to inspire other African nations to seek independence, and had a major influence on Pan-Africanism and the Black Pride movements in the United States of America.^[12][13]
Ghana is the 82nd−largest country in the world and 33rd−largest country on continental Africa by land mass, and Ghana has a land mass of 238,535 km², with 2,093 kilometres of international land borders. Ghana is the 7th−best governed country on continental Africa, and Ghana is a constitutional democracy divided into ten administrative regions, and the world's 49th−most inhabited nation with a multiethnic population of around 24 million as of 2010. Ghana's varied geography includes savannas, woodlands, forests, a coastal line, springs, cave systems, mountains, estuaries, wildlife parks, and nature reserves.^[14][15][16] The coast of Ghana stretches 560 kilometres (350 miles) and includes a rich assortment of culturally significant castles, forts, ports and harbors.^[16]
Ghana is the 5th−most stable country on continental Africa and the seventieth−most stable country in the world. Ghana is the thirteenth−most developed country on continental Africa, and Ghana's economy is the 7th−largest on the Africa continent by purchasing power parity and the 7th−largest on the Africa continent by Nominal GDP and one of the fastest growing in the world.^[17] In terms of purchasing power parity per capita income, Ghana has the highest per capita income in the subregion of western Africa and Ghana has the thirteenth−highest per capita income on continental Africa.
Ghana is a significant petroleum and natural gas producer, one of the world's largest gold and diamond producers, and the largest producer of cocoa in the world as of 2015.^[18][19] Ghana is home to Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake in the world by surface area.^[20] Ghana is a regional power in West Africa and on continental Africa,^[21] a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, and a member of both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Group of 24 (G24).^[22]
Ghana's sweet crude oil reserves, ranks at 5th on continental Africa and 21st–25th globally and Ghana's natural gas reserves, ranks at 6th on continental Africa and 49th globally.^[23] Ghana ranks as the 58th most peaceful country in the world.^[24]

Contents

• 1 Etymology
• 2 Geography
  • 2.1 Climate
  • 2.2 Rivers
  • 2.3 Wildlife
• 3 Transportation
• 4 History
  • 4.1 Prehistory
  • 4.2 Pre–Republicanism
  • 4.3 Republicanism
  • 4.4 Operation Cold Chop and aftermath
  • 4.5 21st century
• 5 Government
  • 5.1 Foreign relations
• 6 Administrative divisions
  • 6.1 Settlements
• 7 Defence
  • 7.1 Defence budget
• 8 Law enforcement and police
  • 8.1 The Narcotic Control Board
• 9 Economy
  • 9.1 Key Sectors
  • 9.2 Real Estate
  • 9.3 Economic Transparency
• 10 Science and technology
  • 10.1 Innovations and HOPE City
  • 10.2 Space programs and Space CanSat
• 11 Universal health care and health care provision
• 12 Education
  • 12.1 Overview
  • 12.2 Kindergarten and Education structure
  • 12.3 Elementary
  • 12.4 High school
  • 12.5 University
  • 12.6 Enrollment
  • 12.7 Foreign students
  • 12.8 Funding of Education
  • 12.9 Provision of Educational Material
• 13 Demographics
  • 13.1 Population
  • 13.2 Language
  • 13.3 Legal Immigration
  • 13.4 Illegal immigration
  • 13.5 Fertility rate
• 14 Culture
  • 14.1 Food and drink
  • 14.2 Literature
  • 14.3 Adinkra
  • 14.4 Traditional Clothing
  • 14.5 Music and dance
  • 14.6 Film
  • 14.7 Media
  • 14.8 Sports
  • 14.9 Cultural heritage and architecture
• 15 National symbols
• 16 Tourism
• 17 See also
• 18 References
• 19 Further reading
• 20 External links

Etymology

An ancient Middle Ages Akan warrior akrafena sword of Ghana.

The etymology of the word Ghana means "Warrior King" and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval Ghana Empire in West Africa, although this empire was further north than the modern-day country of Ghana in Guinea region.^[25]
The name "Ghana" was the source of the name "Guinea" (via French Guinoye) used to refer to the West African coast off Ghana (as in Gulf of Guinea).^[26]
Ghana was adopted as the legal name for the area comprising four separate parts, which immediately before independence enjoyed distinct constitutional positions:^[27]

• the Colony of the Gold Coast;
• the Colony of Ashanti;
• the Protectorate of the Northern Territories; and
• the Trust Territory of Togoland (under British administration).

The minister responsible for shepherding through the independence legislation Charles Arden-Clarke Lord Listowel explained that the name was chosen "in accordance with local wishes".^[28]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ghana

Geography of Ghana and Landscapes of Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta and Western regions of the Republic of Ghana.

Ghana is located on the Gulf of Guinea, only a few degrees north of the Equator, therefore giving it a warm climate.^[29] Ghana spans an area of 238,535 km² (92,099 sq mi), and has an Atlantic coastline that stretches 560 kilometres (350 miles) on the Gulf of Guinea in Atlantic Ocean to its south.^[29] lies between latitudes 4° and 12°N, and longitudes 4°W and 2°E; and the Prime Meridian passes through Ghana, specifically through the industrial port town of Tema.^[29]

 

Theora Video of Geographical Landscape Waterfall and Tourist Attraction (Boti Falls) in the Eastern region of Ghana.

Ghana is geographically closer to the "centre" of the Earth than any other country in the World; even though the notional centre, (0°, 0°) is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 614 km (382 mi) off the south-east coast of Ghana on the Gulf of Guinea.^[30]
Grasslands mixed with south coastal shrublands and forests dominate Ghana, with forest extending northward from the south-west coast of Ghana on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean 320 kilometers (200 miles) and eastward for a maximum of about 270 kilometers (170 miles) with the Kingdom of Ashanti or the southern part of Ghana being a primary location for mining of industrial minerals and timber.^[29]
Ghana encompasses plains, waterfalls, low hills, rivers, Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake, Dodi Island and Bobowasi Island on the south Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana.^[31] The northernmost part of Ghana is Pulmakong and the southernmost part of Ghana is Cape three points.^[29]

Climate

Main article: Climate of Ghana

The climate of Ghana is tropical and there are two main seasons: the wet season and the dry season.

[show]Climate data for Ghana

Rivers

Main article: Rivers of Ghana

Ghana has a vast river system with an array of tributaries.

Panorama and landscape view of Lake Volta in Volta Basin and Eastern Region of Ghana. Lake Volta by artificial surface area is the largest reservoir and lake in the world. Lake Volta drains into the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. Volta River has three main tributaries—the Black Volta, White Volta and Red Volta.

Wildlife

Main articles: Wildlife of Ghana and National parks of Ghana

Ghana has a beautiful array of wildlife that can be seen at zoos and national parks.

• 

  The coastline of Ghana is home to dozens of Whale species.
• 

  The coastline of Ghana is home to dozens of Dolphin species including Clymene Dolphins.
• 

  The coastline of Ghana is home to Porpoise species.
• 

  Ghana is home to the African bush elephant aka Loxodonta africana— Vulnerable species.
• 

  Ghana was home to the Lion - Panthera leo Vulnerable species There are no more left in several West African countries including Ghana.^[32][33][34]
• 

  Ghana was home to the African Leopard -Panthera pardus— Near Threatened. There is a high chance that there are no more left in Ghana.
• 

  Ghana is home to the chimpanzee -Pan troglodytes— Endangered species.

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Ghana

Transport and modes of transport in Ghana is accomplished by road transport (bus-based mass transit system), rail transport (high-speed rail), air transport (civil aviation) and water transport (ferry).

Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet and regional airliner of Ghanaian regional airline carrier Africa World Airlines.  ATR 42 regional airliner of Ghanaian regional airline carrier Antrak Air.  Douglas DC-8-63 narrow-body jet airliner of Ghanaian cargo airline carrier Meridian Airways.

History

Main article: History of Ghana

Prehistory

Main articles: Kingdom of Ashanti and Kingdom of Dagbon (Northern Territories)

16th – 17th century Akan Terracotta, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Prehistory Ghana was inhabited in the Middle Ages and the age of discovery by a number of ancient predominantly Akan kingdoms, including the Ashanti Empire, the Akwamu, the Bonoman, the Denkyira, and the Mankessim Kingdom.^[35] There is archaeological evidence showing that humans have lived in present-day Ghana since the Bronze Age.^[36] However, until the 11th century, the majority of modern Ghana's territorial area was largely unoccupied and uninhabited by humans.^[37] Although the area of present-day Ghana in West Africa has experienced many population movements, the Akans were firmly settled by the 10th century.^[38] By the early 11th century, the Akans were firmly established in the Akan state called Bonoman, for which the Brong-Ahafo region is named.^[38][39]
From the 13th century, Akans emerged from what is believed to have been the Bonoman area, to create several Akan states of Ghana, mainly based on gold trading.^[40] These states included Bonoman (Brong-Ahafo region), Ashanti (Ashanti region), Denkyira (Central region), Mankessim Kingdom (Western region), and Akwamu (Eastern region and Greater Accra region).^[38] By the 19th century; the territory of the southern part of Ghana was included in the Kingdom of Ashanti, one of the most influential states in sub-saharan Africa prior to the onset of colonialism.^[38]
The Kingdom of Ashanti government operated first as a loose network, and eventually as a centralised kingdom with an advanced, highly specialised bureaucracy centred in the capital city of Kumasi.^[38] It is said that at its peak; the King of the Empire of Ashanti, Asantehene could field 500,000 troops, and it had strong degree of military influence over all of its neighbours within West Africa.^[41][42] Prior to Akan contact with Europeans, trade between the Akan and various West African states flourished due to Akan gold wealth.^[43]

Pre–Republicanism

Main articles: Gold Coast (region) and Ghana (Commonwealth realm)

Chronicles of Pre-Republicanism (c. 15th century–6 March 1957), including Gold Coast legislative election, 1956.

Akan trade with European states began after contact with Portuguese in the 15th century.^[44] Early European contact by the Portuguese people, who came to the Gold Coast region in the 15th century to trade then established the Portuguese Gold Coast (Costa do Ouro), focused on the extensive availability of gold.^[45] The Portuguese first landed at a south coastal city, and named the place Elmina as the Portuguese Gold Coast's capital city.^[45] In 1481, King John II of Portugal commissioned Diogo d'Azambuja to build Elmina Castle, which was completed in three years.^[45] By 1598, the Dutch people had joined the Portuguese people in gold trading, establishing the Dutch Gold Coast (Nederlandse Bezittingen ter Kuste van Guinea) and building forts at Komeda and Kormantsi.^[46] In 1617, the Dutch captured the Olnini Castle from the Portuguese, and Axim in 1642 (Fort St Anthony).^[46] Other European traders had joined in gold trading by the mid-17th century, most notably the Swedish people, establishing the Swedish Gold Coast (Svenska Guldkusten), and the Danish people, establishing the Danish Gold Coast (Danske Guldkyst or Dansk Guinea).^[47] Portuguese merchants, impressed with the gold resources in the area, named it Costa do Ouro or Gold Coast.^[47]
More than thirty forts and castles were built by the Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Dutch and German merchants; the latter German people establishing the German Gold Coast (Brandenburger Gold Coast or Groß Friedrichsburg).^[48] In 1874 England established control over some parts of the country assigning these areas the status of British Gold Coast.^[49] Many military engagements occurred between the British colonial powers and the various Akan nation-states and the Akan Kingdom of Ashanti defeated the British a few times in a warfare against the United Kingdom that lasted for 100 years, but eventually lost with the War of the Golden Stool in the early 1900s.^{[50][51][51][52]}
In 1947, the newly formed United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) by The Big Six called for "self-government within the shortest possible time" following the Gold Coast legislative election, 1946.^[47][53] Dr.h.c. Kwame Nkrumah is the first Prime Minister of Ghana and President of Ghana and formed the Convention People's Party (CPP) with the motto "self-government now".^[47] The first Prime Minister of Ghana and President of Ghana Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah won a majority in the Gold Coast legislative election, 1951 for the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly in 1952, Nkrumah was appointed leader of the Gold Coast's government business.^[47] The Gold Coast region declared independence from the United Kingdom on 6 March 1957 and established the nation of Ghana.^[9][10][11] This made it the first African country to gain independence from colonization.^[9][10][11] Within West Africa until the establishment of Ghana in March 1957, the territory of modern Ghana, excluding the Volta Region (British Togoland), was known as the Gold Coast region including the Kingdom of Ashanti and the Kingdom of Dagbon (Northern Territories).^[47]

Republicanism

Main article: Ghanaian First Republic

 

The commencing chronicles of Ghana on 6 March 1957 and Kwame Nkrumah establishment of Ghanaian Republicanism, including Ghanaian presidential election, 1960.

On 6 March 1957 at 12 a.m Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana's establishment and autonomy as the first Prime Minister of Ghana and on 1 July 1960, following the Ghanaian constitutional referendum, 1960 and Ghanaian presidential election, 1960 Nkrumah declared Ghana as a republic as the first President of Ghana.^[47]
The flag of Ghana, consisting of the colours red, gold, green, and the black star, became the new flag in 1957.^[54] Designed by Theodosia Salome Okoh, the red represents the blood that was shed towards independence, the gold represents the industrial minerals wealth of Ghana, the green symbolises the rich grasslands of Ghana, and the black star is the symbol of the Ghanaian people and African emancipation.^[55]
Kwame Nkrumah, first Prime Minister of Ghana, and then President of Ghana, was the first African head of state to promote Pan-Africanism, an idea he came into contact with during his studies at Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in the United States, at the time when Marcus Garvey was becoming famous for his "Back to Africa Movement".^[47] Nkrumah merged the teachings of Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the naturalized Ghanaian scholar W. E. B. Du Bois into the formation of 1960s Ghana.^[47]
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as he became known, played an instrumental part in the founding of the Non-Aligned Movement and his life achievements were recognised by Ghanaians during his centenary birthday celebration, and the day was instituted as a public holiday in Ghana (Founder's Day).^[56]

Operation Cold Chop and aftermath

Main article: History of Ghana (1966–79)

Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum with the statue of Osagyefo.

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his government was subsequently overthrown by a GAF military operation codenamed "Operation Cold Chop" coup while Nkrumah was abroad with Zhou Enlai in the People's Republic of China for a fruitless mission to Hanoi in Vietnam to help end the Vietnam War on 24 February 1966 by GAF led by Field Marshal Akwasi Afrifa.^[57] It turned out later that, unhappy with Nkrumah's strengthening ties with the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China and other communist states,^[57] the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States had been kept updated about preparations for GAF military operation "Operation Cold Chop" and may have helped create difficulties for the Nkrumah government to facilitate this.^[58][59]
A series of alternating military and civilian governments from 1966 to 1981 ended with the ascension to power of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings of the Provisional National Defense Council (NDC) in 1981.^[60] These changes resulted in the suspension of the Constitution of Ghana in 1981, and the banning of political parties in Ghana.^[61] The economy suffered a severe decline soon after, Kwame Darko negotiated a structural adjustment plan changing many old economic policies, and economic growth soon recovered from the mid–2000s.^[61] A new Constitution of Ghana restoring multi-party system politics was promulgated in Ghanaian presidential election, 1992; Rawlings was elected as president of Ghana then, and again in Ghanaian general election, 1996.^[62]

21st century

Chronicles of 21st Century-Republicanism (2000–Present), including Ghanaian presidential election, 2012.

Winning the 2000 Ghanaian elections, John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was sworn into office as president of Ghana in January 2001, and attained the presidency again in the 2004 Ghanaian elections, thus also serving two term of office term limit as president of Ghana and thus marking the first time under the fourth republic of Ghana that power had been transferred to one legitimately elected head of state and head of government to another.^[62]
Kufuor was succeeded to the presidency of the Republic of Ghana by John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the Ghanaian presidential election, 2008 and John Atta Mills was inaugurated as the third president of the fourth republic of Ghana and eleventh president of Ghana on 7 January 2009,^[63] prior to John Atta Mills being succeeded as president of Ghana by then vice-president of Ghana John Dramani Mahama on 24 July 2012.^[64]
Following the Ghanaian presidential election, 2012 John Dramani Mahama became supreme commander-in-chief and John Dramani Mahama was inaugurated as the 4th President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and 12th President of Ghana on 7 January 2013 to serve a one term of office of 4-years term length as supreme commander-in-chief and president of Ghana until 7 January 2017,^[65] and securing Ghana's status as a stable democracy.^[62]

6th Parliament of the 4th Republic Parliament of Ghana
National Democratic Congress (148)   New Patriotic Party (123)   Convention People's Party (1)   Independents (3)
Total		275

Government

Main articles: Government of Ghana and Politics of Ghana

Parliament House of Ghana seat of the Government of Ghana, the Supreme Court of Ghana and Judiciary of Ghana buildings, Osu Castle is the defacto residence of presidency and the Flagstaff House is the official residence and presidential palace. First President of the Republic of Ghana Nkrumah and Supreme Commander-in-Chiefs of the 4th Republic of Ghana Rawlings; Kufuor; Mills and Mahama.

Ghana is a unitary presidential constitutional democracy with a parliamentary multi-party system and former alternating military occupation. Following alternating military and civilian governments in January 1993, the Ghana military government gave way to the Fourth Republic of Ghana after presidential elections and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution of Ghana divides powers among a supreme commander-in-chief (President of Ghana), parliament (Parliament of Ghana), cabinet (Ministers of the Ghanaian Government), council of state (Ghanaian Council of State), and an independent judiciary (Judiciary of Ghana). The Government of Ghana is elected by universal suffrage.^[66] The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced that former Vice-President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama won the Ghana presidential election, 2012 on 7 December 2012 and John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as the reigning President of Ghana on 7 January 2013 serving a 4-years term length that expires approximately on Saturday 7 January 2017 amidst announcement of electoral fraud.^[65]
The 2012 Failed States Index indicated that Ghana is ranked the 67th least failed state in the world and the 5th least failed state in Africa after Mauritius, 2nd Seychelles, 3rd Botswana, and 4th South Africa. Ghana ranked 112th out of 177 countries on the index.^[67] Ghana ranked as the 64th least corrupt and politically corrupt country in the world out of all 174 countries ranked and Ghana ranked as the 5th least corrupt and politically corrupt country in Africa out of 53 countries in the 2012 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.^[68][69] Ghana was ranked 7th in Africa out of 53 countries in the 2012 Ibrahim Index of African Governance. The Ibrahim Index is a comprehensive measure of African government, based on a number of different variables which reflect the success with which governments deliver essential political goods to its citizens.^[70]

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Ghana

Kofi Annan

Since independence, Ghana has been devoted to ideals of nonalignment and is a founding member of the non-aligned movement. Ghana favours international and regional political and economic co-operation, and is an active member of the United Nations and the African Union.^[71]
Ghana has a great relationship with the United States, all of the last three U.S presidents- Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama- have all made diplomatic trips to Ghana. Many Ghanaian diplomats and politicians hold positions in international organisations. These include Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, International Criminal Court Judge Akua Kuenyehia, former President Jerry John Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kuffour who have both served as diplomats of the United Nations.^[66]
In September 2010, Ghana's former President John Atta Mills visited China on an official visit. Mills and China's former President Hu Jintao, marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, at the Great Hall of the People on 20 September 2010.^[72] China reciprocated with an official visit in November 2011, by the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Zhou Tienong who visited Ghana and met with Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama.^[73]
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the 6th President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with the 12th President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama on 16 April 2013 to hold discussions with President John Dramani Mahama on strengthening the Non-Aligned Movement and also co–chair a bilateral meeting between the two countries Ghana and Iran at the Ghanaian presidential palace Flagstaff House.^{[74][75][76][77][78]} Government of Ghana reciprocated with an official state visit on 5 August 2013, by the Vice President of Ghana, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur whom met with the Vice President of Iran, Eshaq Jahangiri on the basis of autarky and possible bilateral trade at the Islamic Republic of Iran's presidential palace, Sa'dabad Palace.^[79]

• 

  Fokker F28 Fellowship of the President of Ghana arrives on State Visit at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, People's Republic of China
• 

  Diplomat Kofi Annan meeting with Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation.
• 

  John Kufuor in conversation with George W. Bush at Osu Castle.
• 

  Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, along with Malia Obama and Sasha Obama, participate in State Arrival Ceremony at Kotoka International Airport.
• 

  Ghanaian and Iranian diplomacy.
• 

  Diplomatic missions of Ghana.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Ghana

Ghana is divided into 10 administrative regions, sub-divided into 275 districts:^[80][81][82]

Regions of Ghana	Area (km²)	Regional capitals
Ashanti Region	24,389	Kumasi	Ghana regional map	Ghana topography−topographic map
Brong-Ahafo Region	39,557	Sunyani
Central Region	9,826	Cape Coast
Eastern Region	19,323	Koforidua
Greater Accra Region	3,245	Accra
Northern Region	70,384	Tamale
Upper East Region	8,842	Bolgatanga
Upper West Region	18,476	Wa
Volta Region	20,570	Ho
Western Region	23,941	Sekondi-Takoradi

Settlements

Largest cities
Kumasi			Accra			Sekondi-Takoradi
Ten largest cities
Rank	City	Region	Population	Rank	City	Region	Population
1	Kumasi	Ashanti	3,779,979	6	Cape Coast	Central	897,968
2	Accra	Greater Accra	2,995,493	7	Obuasi	Ashanti	879,847
3	Sekondi-Takoradi	Western	1,895,247	8	Koforidua	Eastern	866,696
4	Tamale	Northern	1,764,634	9	Tema	Greater Accra	428,742
5	Sunyani	Brong-Ahafo	998,897	10	Techiman	Brong-Ahafo	394,448
Source: Ghana Statistical Service, Department of Census and Statistics

Defence

Main article: Ghana Armed Forces

Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Military Technologies

In 1957, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) consisted of its headquarters, support services, three battalions of infantry and a reconnaissance squadron with armoured vehicles.^[83] Ghanaian Prime Minister and President Kwame Nkrumah aimed at rapidly expanding the GAF to support the United States of Africa ambitions. Thus in 1961, 4th and 5th Battalions were established, and in 1964 6th Battalion was established, from a parachute airborne unit originally raised in 1963.^[84]
Today, Ghana is a regional power and regional hegemony.^[21] In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian Forces commander Roméo Dallaire highly rated the GAF soldiers and military personnels.^[83]
The military operations and military doctrine of the GAF are conceptualized on the Constitution of Ghana, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Ghana’s Law on Armed Force Military Strategy, and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) agreements to which GAF is attestator.^[85][86][87] GAF military operations are executed under the auspices and imperium of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) Minister for Defence.^[85][88]
Ghana maintains several research reactors ready on standby for the processing of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) into Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNW).^[89] The "Kwabenya Nuclear Plant of Ghana" contains Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) sufficient to make a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD).^[90] According to an article published by renowned political scientist, bioterrorism and nuclear weapons specialist Graham T. Allison for Boston Globe; Ghana has enough Enriched Uranium to produce a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD).^[90] Entitled “We're still vulnerable”, Graham T. Allison speculates that; the orphaned research reactor "Kwabenya Nuclear Plant of Ghana" at Kwabenya, Greater Accra contains Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) sufficient to make a number of nuclear weapons such as Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNW).^[90] Graham T. Allison writes:

“	"... Orphaned research reactors in Ghana, contain Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) sufficient to make at any time a number of Nuclear Weapons ..."	”
—Political Scientist, Bioterrorism and Nuclear weapons specialist Graham T. Allison[90]

Defence budget

Ghana Military–industrial complex and Defense industry budgetary history
Ghana Armed Forces Defense budget percentage growth rate	Ghana Armed Forces Defense budget percentage

Law enforcement and police

Further information: Law enforcement in Ghana

Ghana Police Service in Mowag Piranhas and Armoured fighting vehicles

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is the main law enforcement agency of the Republic of Ghana and responsible for the detection of crime, maintenance of law and order and the maintenance of internal peace and security.^[91] The Ghana Police Service has eleven specialized police units including a Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) and Marine Police Unit (MPU).^[92][93] The Ghana Police Service operates in twelve divisions: ten covering the ten regions of Ghana, one assigned specifically to the seaport and industrial hub of Tema, and the twelfth being the Railways, Ports and Harbours Division.^[93] The Ghana Police Service's Marine Police Unit and Division handles issues that arise from the country's offshore oil and gas industry.^[93]
The Ghana Prisons Service and the sub-division Borstal Institute for Juveniles administers incarceration in Ghana.^[94] Ghana retains and exercises the death penalty for treason, corruption, robbery, piracy, drug trafficking, rape, and homicide.^[95][96] 27 convicts (all men) were sentenced to death in Ghana in 2012 and the Ghana Prisons Service statistics of the total number of convicts sentenced to death in Ghana as at December 2012 was 162 men and 4 women,^[95] with a total prison inmate population of 13,983 convicts as at 22 July 2013.^[97]

The Narcotic Control Board

Ghana is among the sovereign states of West Africa used by drug cartels and drug traffickers (shown in orange).

Ghana has been used as a key narcotics industry transshipment point by traffickers.^[98] There is not wide popular knowledge about the narcotics industry and intercepted narcotics in Ghana due to the involvement of the black market.^{[citation needed]} The social context within which narcotic trafficking, storage, transportation, and repacking systems exist in Ghana and the state's location along the Gulf of Guinea within the Atlantic Ocean – only a few degrees north of the Equator – makes Ghana an attractive country for the narcotics business.^[98][99]
The Narcotic Control Board (NACOB), in collaboration with an internal counterpart, has impounded container ships at the Sekondi Naval Base within the Takoradi Harbour. These ships were carrying millions of kilograms of the narcotic cocaine, with a street value running into billions of Ghana cedis. However, drug seizures saw a decline in 2011.^[98][99] Drug cartels are using new methods in narcotics production and narcotics exportation, in order to avoid Ghanaian security agencies.^[98][99] Income inequality, underdeveloped institutions and criminal justice system, porous open borders, and the existence of established smuggling organizations contribute to Ghana's position in the narcotics industry.^[98][99] John Atta Mills, president between 2009 and 2012, initiated ongoing efforts to reduce the role of airports in Ghana's drug trade.^[98]

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Ghana, New media in Ghana and Automobile manufacturing in Ghana

Real GDP rate of growth of the Ghana economy in percentage. The Ghanaian economy maintains the most rapid and highest GDP growth rates on the Africa continent and was the second highest GDP growth in the world, recording over 14% GDP growth in the year 2011 with fellow petroleum and natural gas producer Qatar as first and Ghana recorded 8.7% GDP growth in 2012. The Takoradi Harbour seaport was established in 1928 and is Ghana's main export outlet. Ghana maintains one of the worlds fastest growing and expanding shipping industry

Ghana is a relatively wealthy natural resource rich country possessing a great abundance of industrial minerals, hydrocarbons and other vast array of natural resources. It is an emerging designated digital economy with mixed economy hybridization and an emerging market with 8.7% GDP growth in 2012. It has an economic plan target known as the "Ghana Vision 2020". This plan will see Ghana become the first country on the Africa continent to become a developed country from the years 2020 to 2029, followed by a newly industrialised country from the years 2030 to 2039 onwards. This excludes fellow Group of 24 (G24) member and Sub-Saharan African country South Africa, which is a newly industrialised country.^[100] The economy of Ghana is tied to the Chinese Yuan Renminbi along with Ghana's vast gold reserves. In 2013, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) began circulating the Renminbi throughout Ghanaian state-owned banks and to the Ghana public as hard currency along with the national Ghana cedi for second national trade currency.^[101]
Ghana, a wealthy country with vast natural resources has a current Middle Income country rank and is an Emerging Economy.^[5][102] Services account for 50% of Ghanaian gross domestic product, followed by manufacturing (24.1%), extractive industries (5%), and taxes (20.9%).^[103]

Key Sectors

Economy of Ghana Vision 2020 logo: Ghana to become a developed country from the years 2020–2029 then Ghana immediately become a newly industrialised country from the years 2030–2039 onwards. Clockwise of econim key sectors from top left: Ghana Stock Exchange; Chocolate Manufacturer Building of Cocoa Processing Company, Technology Developers of the University of Ghana, Casino Building of Ghana; Akosombo Hydroelectric Project; 10th Largest Gold Mine on Earth the Obuasi Gold Mine; Takoradi Harbour; Tourist Attraction Hinduism in Ghana Hindu Temple of Ghana; Adome Bridge and the Largest Artificial Lake on Earth the Lake Volta.

The Ghana economy is an emerging digital-based mixed economy hybrid similarly to that of Taiwan with an increasing primary manufacturing and exportation of digital technology goods along with assembling and exporting automobiles and ships, diverse resource rich exportations of industrial minerals, agricultural products primarily cocoa, petroleum and natural gas,^[104] and industries such as information and communications technology primarily via Ghana's state digital technology corporation Rlg Communications which manufactures tablet computers with smart phones and various consumer electronics.^[103][105]
Electricity generation is primarily via Ghana's state-owned hydropower company Volta River Authority and state-owned hydrocarbon corporation Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.^[103] The Akosombo Dam, which was built on the Volta River in 1965, Bui Dam, Kpong Dam with several other hydroelectric dams and renewable energy sources provides hydro-electricity and sustainable energy for Ghana.^{[106][107][108]}
Known for its industrial minerals, Ghana is the world's 7th largest producer of gold; producing over 102 metric tons of gold and the 10th largest producer of gold in the world in 2012; producing 89 metric tons of gold and Ghana is the designated 2nd largest producer of gold on the Africa continent behind the designated first South Africa.^[109] Ghana has the 9th largest reserves of diamonds in the world and Ghana is the 9th largest producer of diamonds in the world with Brazil having the 10th largest reserves of diamonds in the world and being the 10th largest producer of diamonds in the world.^[110] Industrial minerals and exports from South Ghana are gold, silver, timber, diamonds, bauxite, and manganese; South Ghana also has a great deposit of barites; basalts; clays; dolomites; feldspars; granites; gravels; gypsums; iron ores; kaolins; laterites; limestones; magnesites; marbles; micas; phosphates; phosphorus; rocks; salts; sands; sandstones; silver; slates; talcs; and uranium that are yet to be fully exploited.^[111] The Government of Ghana has drawn plans to nationalize Ghana's entire mining industry for greater revenues for the Government of Ghana.^[112][113]
Ghana produces the "finest cocoa" on Earth,^[18] and Ghana is the designated 2nd largest producer of cocoa in the world,^[18][114] and Ghana will become the designated largest producer of cocoa in the world in 2015.^[19]

Ghanaian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) state incorporation Rlg
Communicationsmanufactures Tablet Computers and manufactures Consumer Electronics.
Ghana maintains a vast arrayof state Information Technology (IT) Services. Ghana manufactures
its own indigenous automobiles and the Mahindra XUV500 is manufactured and exported from
Ghana along with the urban electric car the Mahindra e2o, the Mahindra Genio and the Mahindra Xylo.

Ghana produces and exports an abundance of hydrocarbons such as sweet crude oil and natural
gas.^[17][115] The 100% state-owned filling station company of Ghana, Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) is the number 1 petroleum and gas filling station of Ghana and the 100% state-owned state oil company Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) administrates hydrocarbon exploration and production of Ghana's entire petroleum and natural gas reserves and Ghana aims to further increase output of oil to 2.2 million barrels per day and gas to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day.^[116] Ghana's Jubilee Oilfield which contains up to 3 billion barrels (480,000,000 m³) of sweet crude oil was discovered in 2007, among the many other offshore and inland oilfields in Ghana.^[117] Ghana is believed to have up to 5 billion barrels (790,000,000 m³) to 7 billion barrels (1.1×10⁹ m³) of petroleum in reserves,^[118] which is the fifth largest in Africa and the 21st to 25th largest proven reserves in the world and Ghana has up to 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in reserves,^[23] which is the sixth largest in Africa and the 49th largest natural gas proven reserves in the world. Oil and gas exploration off Ghana's eastern coast on the Gulf of Guinea is ongoing, and the amount of both crude oil and natural gas continues to increase. The Government of Ghana has drawn plans to nationalize Ghana's entire petroleum and natural gas reserves for greater revenues for the Government of Ghana.^[119] In addition, the Government of Ghana has sought to build the second nuclear power plant in Africa.

Booming Economy, Container ships and Merchant ships being loaded and unloaded at Intermodal freight transport of Tema Harbour.

In July 2013, International Enterprise Singapore (IE) Singapore opened its 38th global office in Accra, Ghana to develop trade and investment on logistics, oil and gas, aviation, transportation and consumer sectors.^[120] Singapore and Ghana also signed four bilateral agreements to promote public sector and private sector collaboration, as Ghana aims to predominantly shift its economic trade partnership to East Asia and Southeast Asia.^[120] The economic centre is IE Singapore's second office in Africa, coming six months after opening in Johannesburg, South Africa in January 2013.^[120] Ghana's labour force in 2008 totalled 11.5 million Ghanaian citizens.^[121][122] Tema harbour is Africa's largest manmade harbour and Takoradi harbour along with Tema harbour in Ghana handles goods and exports for Ghana, they are also a traffic junctions, where goods are transhipped, the Tema harbour handles the majority of the nation's export cargo and most of the country's chief exports is shipped from Takoradi harbour.^[123][124] The Takoradi harbour and Tema harbour are operated by the state-owned Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.^[123][124]

Real Estate 

The real estate and housing market of Ghana has become an important and strategic economic sector, particularly in the urban centers of south Ghana such as Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tema.^{[125][126][127]} Kumasi is growing at a faster rate than Accra, and there is less competition in its real estate market.^[125] The gross rental income tax of Ghana is withheld at 10%, capital gains are taxed at 15% with a 5% gift tax imposed on the transfer of properties and Ghana’s real estate market is divided into 3 areas: public sector real estate development, emerging private sector real estate development, and private individuals.^[125][126] The activities of these 3 groups are facilitated by the Ghanaian banks and the primary mortgage market which has demonstrated enormous growth potential.^[126][126] Recent developments in the Ghanaian economy has given birth to a boom in the construction sector, including the housing and public housing sector generating and injecting millions of dollars annually into the Ghanaian economy.^[125][126] The real estate market investment perspective and attraction comes from Ghana's tropical location and robust political stability.^[125][126] An increasing number of the Ghanaian populace are investing in properties and the Ghana government is empowering the private sector in the real estate direction.^[125][126]

Economic Transparency

According to Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index of 2013, out of 177 countries, Ghana ranked 63rd with Cuba and Saudi Arabia. Ghana had a score of 46 on a scale where a 0–9 score means highly corrupt, and a 90–100 score means very clean. This was based on perceived levels of public sector corruption.^[128] Previously in 2012, the country ranked 64 and scored 45. Thus, Ghana's public sector scored lower in 2013 than in 2012, according to CPI's scores.
Local reports have claimed that Ghana loses US$4.5 billion every year (annually) from gross domestic product (GDP) growth as a result of economic corruption and economic crime by the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of Ghana led by John Dramani Mahama.^[129] It is also said Ghana has lost an additional US$2.5 billion from gross domestic product (GDP) growth between the months of January 2013 to October 2013 through economic corrupt practices under the Mahama administration.^[130]
The incumbent president is however seen to be fighting corruption by some government members,^[131] and a fellow politician of an opposition party,^[132] after ordering investigations into scandals. Nonetheless others believe his actions aren't satisfactory in some cases.^[133]

Hope City would have Africa's tallest building 270m (885ft) passing the 223m (732ft) Carlton Centre in Johannesburg;^[134] Hope City will be Africa's largest economic hub driven by Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Hope City will be Africa's largest financial centre along with Johannesburg by the year 2020.^[135]

HOPE City is a technology park to be built and based in Ghana.^[136] HOPE City is being undertaken by Ghanaian information and communications technology company Rlg Communications.^[137] HOPE City is an acronym for Home, Office, People and Environment.^[137] The HOPE City project is expected to be completed in 2016 and is estimated to cost $US 10 billion in construction;^[137] and one of its towers will become Africa's tallest building.^[137] HOPE City will host a cluster of buildings and telecommunications facilities to serve as an Information and Communications Technology Park.^[136][137]

Ghana access to information and communition technologies, and Ghana internet surfing activities.

Space programs and Space CanSat

The Ghana Space Science and Technology Centre (GSSTC) and Ghana Space Agency (GhsA) oversees the space exploration and space programs of Ghana and GSSTC and GhsA officials are to have a national security observational satellite launched into orbit in 2015.^[138][139] The CanSat satellite technology and space program is spearheaded by the All Nations University (ANU) in Koforidua and CanSat as envisioned can be used in predicting weather, monitoring natural resources, and national security.^[139] The CanSat Space Satellite is to be launched into orbit in 2015.^[139]
Ghana's annual space exploration expenditure has been 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) for support research in science and technology and in 2012 Ghana was elected to chair the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Comsats) and Ghana has a joint effort in space exploration with South Africa's South African National Space Agency (SANSA).^[138]

Universal health care and health care provision

Main articles: NHIS and Health in Ghana

Further information: Eye care in Ghana and Optometry in Ghana

Ghana has a universal health care system strictly designated for Ghanaian nationals, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).^[140] Health care is very variable throughout Ghana and in 2012, over 12 million Ghanaian nationals were covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (Ghana) (NHIS).^[141] Urban centres are well served, and contain most of the hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in Ghana. There are over 200 hospitals in Ghana and Ghana is a destination for medical tourism.^[142] In 2013, life expectancy at birth had increased to 66 years with males at 65 years and females at 67 years,^[143] and in 2013 infant mortality decreased to 39 per 1,000 live births.^[144] The total fertility rate has dramatically declined to 2.12 children per woman among Ghanaian nationals. There was an estimation of 15 physicians and 93 nurses per 100,000 persons in 2010.^[145] 5.2% of Ghana's GDP was spent on health in 2010,^[146] and all Ghanaian citizens have the right to access primary health care.^[147] Ghana's universal health care system has been described as the most successful healthcare system on the Africa continent by the renowned business magnate and tycoon Bill Gates.^[147]

Education

Main article: Education in Ghana

Overview

Educational attainment of non-student Ghanaians above 15 years old from 2010‒2012[3]
Highest qualification			Percentage
No education (2012)			6.8%
Primary school (2012)			10%
Female Secondary school (2010)			53%
Male Secondary school (2010)			40.5%
Post-secondary diploma (2012)			18.8%
Degree (2012)			24.4%

Ghanaian Education system is divided in three parts: "Basic Education", secondary cycle and tertiary Education. "Basic Education" lasts 11 years (Age 4‒15), is free and compulsory.^[148] It is divided into Kindergarten (2 years), Primary School (2 module of 3 years) and Junior High school (3 years). The Junior High School (JHS) ends on the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).^[148][149] Once the BECE achieved, the pupil can pursue into secondary cycle.^[150] Hence, the pupil has the choice between general Education (assumed by Senior High School) and vocational Education (assumed by technical Senior High School, Technical and vocational Institutes, completed by a massive private and informal offer). Senior High School lasts three years and ends on the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The WASSCE is needed to join a University Bachelor's Degree Program.^[151] Polytechnics are opened to vocational students, from SHS or from TVI.^[152] A Bachelor's Degree usually lasts 4 years, can be followed by a 1 or 2 year Master's Degree, which can be concluded in 3 years by a Phd.^[153] A Polytechnic lasts 2 or 3 years.^[152] Ghana also possesses numerous colleges of education.^[154] The Ghanaian education system from Kindergarten up to an undergraduate degree level takes 20 years.^[155]
The academic year usually goes from August to May inclusive.^[156] The school year in Primary Education lasts 40 weeks in Primary School and SHS, and 45 weeks in JHS.^[157]

Kindergarten and Education structure

The female and male ages 15–24 years literacy rate in Ghana was 81% in 2010, with males at 82%,^[158] and females at 80%.^[159]

Ghana Kindergarten (Preschool) students

Ghanaian children begin their education at the age of three or four starting from kindergarten (nursery school and preschool), then to elementary school (primary school), high school (junior high school and senior high school) and finally university. The average age at which a Ghanaian child enters primary school is 6 years.^[160]
Ghana has a free education 6-year primary school education system beginning at age six,^[161] and, under the educational reforms implemented in 1987 and reformed in 2007, they pass on to a 3-year junior high school system. At the end of the third year of junior high, there is a mandatory "Basic Education Certificate Examination". Those continuing must complete the 4-year senior high school program (which has been changed to three years) and take an admission exam to enter any university or tertiary programme. The Ghanaian education system from nursery school up to an undergraduate degree level takes 20 years.^[155]
In 2005, Ghana had 12,130 primary schools, 5,450 junior secondary schools, 503 senior secondary schools, 21 public training colleges, 18 technical institutions, two diploma-awarding institutions and 6 universities.^[162][163]
In 2010, there were relatively more females (53.0%) than males (40.5%) with Primary School and JSS (Junior Secondary School) / JHS (Junior High School) as their highest level of education.^[3]

Elementary

Further information: List of schools in Ghana

Ghana Elementary local and international students and school teachers from Roman Ridge School in Ghana

The Ghanaian Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghanaian National Accreditation Board (NAB) provide Free Education at Elementary School (Primary School Education) level, and most Ghanaians have relatively easy access to High School Education (Junior High School Education and Senior High School Education).^[161] These numbers can be contrasted with the single university and handful of secondary and primary schools that existed at the time of independence in 1957. Ghana's spending on education has varied between 28–40% of its annual budget in the past decade. All teaching is done in English, mostly by qualified Ghanaian educators.^[155]
The courses taught at the primary or basic school level include English, Ghanaian language and culture, mathematics,
environmental studies, social studies, Mandarin and French as an OIF associated-member; as further languages are added,^[164] integrated or general science, pre-vocational skills and pre-technical skills, religious and moral education, and physical activities such as Ghanaian music and dance, and physical education.^[155]

High school

Further information: List of senior secondary schools in Ghana

Senior High School Students of the Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary receiving their WASSCE upon Graduation prior to entering University Education for their Academic Degrees in Ghana.

Ghana High school Students of the Accra Academy; Learning Science and undertaking Scientific tests in Science Laboratory.

The senior high level school curriculum has core subjects and elective subjects of which students must take four the core subjects of English language, mathematics, integrated science (including science, agriculture and environmental studies) and social studies (economics, geography, history and government).^[155]
The high school students also choose 4 elective subjects from 5 available programmes: agriculture programme, general programme (arts or science option), business programme, vocational programme and technical programme.^[155] Apart from most primary and secondary schools which choose the Ghanaian system of schooling, there are also international schools such as the Takoradi International School, Tema International School, Galaxy International School, The Roman Ridge School, Lincoln Community School, Faith Montessori School, American International School, Association International School, New Nation School, SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College and International Community School, which offer the International Baccalaureat, Advanced Level General Certificate of Education and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).^[162]

University

Further information: List of universities in Ghana

Front view of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) North Campus in Winneba.

Ghana University students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, February 2011.

Main entrance to the University of Ghana's Balme Library in Accra.

There are eight national public universities in Ghana, the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, University of Education, University for Development Studies, University of Mines and Technology, University Of Energy And Natural Resources and University of Health and Allied Sciences.^[165] Ghana also has a growing number of accredited private universities including Ghana Telecom University College, Ashesi University College, Methodist University College Ghana, Central University College, Regent University College of Science and Technology, Valley View University and Zenith University College.^[166]
The oldest university in Ghana; the University of Ghana, was founded in 1948. It had a total of 29,754 students in 2008. Its programmes in the Arts, Humanities, Business, and the Social Sciences, as well as Medicine are one of the best in the country. Many top universities from all over the world, including, Harvard University, Cornell University and Oxford University. Have special study abroad programs with Ghanaian schools and provided their students the opportunity to study abroad at Ghanaian universities. New York University has a campus in Accra.^[167]
The University of Ghana has seen a shift of its traditionally best students to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.^[168] Since Ghana's independence, the country has been one of the most educational in sub-saharan Africa. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been chancellor of the University of Ghana since 2008.^[168]
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; the second university to be established in Ghana, is the premier university of science and technology in Ghana and West Africa.^[155]

Enrollment

Ratio of females to males in education system.

Females and males out of education system.

With over 95% of its children in school, Ghana currently has one of the highest school enrolment rates in all of Africa.^[160][169] The ratio of females to males in the total education system was 96.38%, in 2011.^[170]

Foreign students

Ghana's education system annually attracts a high-number of foreign students particularly in the university sector.^[171] One noted product of the Ghana education system is Robert Mugabe who completed both his elementary school education and high school education at the prestigious Achimota School.^[172]

Funding of Education

The government largely funds Basic Education comprising public primary schools and public junior high schools. Senior High Schools are highly subsidised by the government. At the higher education level, the government funds more than 80% of resources provided to public universities, polytechnics and teacher training colleges.

Provision of Educational Material

As part of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education, Fcube, the government supplies all basic education schools with all their textbooks and other educational supplies like exercise books. Senior High Schools are also provided with all their textbook requirement by the government. Private schools acquire their educational material from private suppliers. Ghana has the largest bookshop in Africa, EPP Books Services located at the University of Ghana

Demographics

Further information: Ghanaian people

Three Ghanaian men: Kofi Annan, Abedi Pele and Jerry John Rawlings.

Religious affiliation in Ghana

Affiliation	2000 census[173]	2010 census[174]
Christian	68.8%	71.2%
Muslim	15.9%	17.6%
Traditional	8.5%	5.2%
None	6.1%	5.2%
Other	0.7%	0.8%

The vast majority of Ghana's inhabiting population is Black African. 98% percent to be exact.^{[175][176][177]} Ghana is a multiethnic country with over 100 linguistic and ethnic groups.^[178] The largest is the Akan people. Ghana's territorial area within West Africa was unoccupied and uninhabited by humans until the 10th century A.D.^[37] In the 10th century A.D. Akans became first settlers and established Bonoman (Brong Ahafo region) in the 11th century prior to establishing the Akan Kingdom of Ashanti then Akans were joined and followed by African settlers and inhabitants in the 16th century A.D and the Akan created an advanced economy based on principally gold and gold bar commodities then traded with the states of West Africa.^[38]
The majority of the inhabiting population of Ghana is Christian at 71.2%;^[179] 28.3% are Pentecostal, 18.4% Protestant and 13.1% Catholic.^[179] The Muslims make the second largest religious minority at 17.6% (51% Sunni, 16% Ahmadiyya and 8% Shia).^[174][180]
As of the year 2014, there are 375,000 registered legal skilled workers (permanent residents) or foreign workers/students (i.e. Ghana card holders) inhabitants with an annually 1.5 million transited airport layovers. In its first post-colonial census in 1960, Ghana had a population of 6.7 million.^[181] The median age of Ghanaian citizens is 30 years old and the average household size is 3.6 persons. The Government of Ghana states that the official language of Ghana is English and is spoken by 21.3% of the inhabiting population of Ghana.^[2]

Population

In 2010, most of the 24.2 million inhabitants were predominantly citizens of the Akan territories or Kingdom of Ashanti (4.7 million in Ashanti, 2.3 million in Brong-Ahafo, 2.2 million in Central, 2.6 million in Eastern, 2.3 million in Western, and 4 million in the seat of government in Greater Accra geographically and legally part of Eastern then administered separately on 23 July 1982).^[179] As of 2010, 4.1 million persons reside in the Kingdom of Dagbon (2.4 million in Northern, 1 million in Upper East, and 0.7 million in Upper West).^[179]
As of 2010, 2.1 million persons reside in Volta.^[179]

Language

Akan greeting phrases; "akɔaba" (welcome) and "ɛte sɛn" (how are you) in Ashanti Twi.

There are over one hundred ethnic languages spoken in Ghana. Eleven of these languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: four are Akan ethnic languages (Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, Mfantse and Nzema), two are Mole-Dagbani ethnic languages (Dagaare and Dagbanli). The rest are Ewe, Dangme, Ga, Gonja, and Kasem.^[182][183]
About 80% of Ghanaians speak an Akan language as a first language and second language.^{[184] [185]} The Akan language; Ashanti Twi is officially recognized for literacy,^[184] at least at the lower primary (Primary 1‒3) level,^[184] and studied at university as a bachelor's degree or master's degree program.^[184] It is also most used indigenous language in Ghana.^[184]

Legal Immigration

Main article: Immigration to Ghana

Due to a recent foreign legal immigration into Ghana of skilled workers there is a small population of Chinese/Malaysians, Indians, Arabs/Middle Easterners and Europeans.

Illegal immigration

Main article: Illegal immigration in Ghana

Illegal Immigrants (Aliens (law)) in Ghana and Asylum Seekers−Refugees Camp (Buduburam) in Ghana with Refugee Board (Ghana) Refugee Registration Card.

In 2010, the Ghana Immigration Service reported that there was a large number of Illegal immigrants inhabiting Ghana (predominantly Nigerian peoples, Burkinabe citizens, Togolese citizens, Malian citizens). In 1969, under the "Ghana Aliens Compliance Order" (GACO) enacted by the Prime Minister of Ghana Kofi Abrefa Busia;^[186] Government of Ghana with BGU (Border Guard Unit) deported over 3 million aliens and illegal immigrants in 3 months as they made up 20% of the inhabiting population at the time.^[186][187] In 2013, there was a mass deportation of illegal miners, more than four thousand of whom were Chinese nationals.^[188][189]

Fertility rate

Fertility rate of Ghana declined from 3.99 (2000) to 3.28 (2010) with 2.78 in urban region and 3.94 in rural region (Information by the Independent Ghana State Statistical Service).^[190]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ghana

Ghanaian culture is a diverse mixture of the practices and beliefs of all the different Ghanaian people groups

Food and drink

Main article: Ghanaian cuisine

Banku & Grilled Tilapia and Roasted delicacy (Ghanaian cuisines) with Blue Skies (Ghanaian beverage)

Ghanaian cuisine and gastronomy is diverse, and includes an assortment of soups and stews with varied seafoods and most Ghanaian soups are prepared with vegetables, meat, poultry or fish.^[191] Fish is important in the Ghanaian diet with tilapia, roasted and fried whitebait, smoked fish and crayfish all being common components of Ghanaian dishes.^[191] Banku is a common Ghanaian starchy food made from ground corn (maize),^[191] and cornmeal based staples, dokonu (kenkey) and banku are usually accompanied by some form of fried fish (chinam) or grilled tilapia and a very spicy condiment made from raw red and green chillies, onions and tomatoes (pepper sauce).^[191] Banku and tilapia is a combo served in most Ghanaian restaurants.^[191] Fufu is the most common exported Ghanaian dish in that it is a delicacy aross the African diaspora.^[191]

Literature

MBE and Author J. E. Casely Hayford

The Ghanaian national literature radio program and accompanying publication Voices of Ghana was one of the earliest on the African continent. The most prominent Ghanaian authors are novelists; J. E. Casely Hayford, Ayi Kwei Armah and Nii Ayikwei Parkes, who gained international acclaim with the books, Ethiopia Unbound (1911), The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born (1968) and Tail of the Blue Bird (2009), respectively.^[192] In addition to novels, other literature arts such as Ghanaian theatre and poetry have also had a very good development and support at the national level with prominent Ghanaian playwrights and poets Joe de Graft and Efua Sutherland.^[192]

Adinkra

See also: Adinkra

Adinkra symbols

During the 13th century, Ghanaians developed their unique art of adinkra printing. Hand-printed and hand-embroidered adinkra clothes were made and used exclusively by the then Ghanaian royalty for devotional ceremonies. Each of the motifs that make up the corpus of adinkra symbolism has a name and meaning derived from a proverb, a historical event, human attitude, ethology, plant life-form, or shapes of inanimate and man-made objects. These are graphically rendered in stylized geometric shapes. The meanings of the motifs may be categorized into aesthetics, ethics, human relations, and concepts.^[192]

Traditional Clothing

Main article: Kente cloth

Kente cloth clothing variations and man wearing the Ghanaian traditional kente cloth clothing with the Ghanaian traditional Ahenema slippers.

Along with the Adinkra cloth Ghanaian's use many different cloth fabrics for their traditional attire.^[193] The different ethic groups have their own individual cloth. The most well known is the Kente cloth.^[193] Kente is a very important Ghanaian national costume and clothing and these cloths are used to make traditional and modern Ghanaian Kente attire.^[193] Different symbols and different colours mean different things.^[193] Kente is the most famous of all the Ghanaian cloths.^[193] Kente is an ceremonial cloth hand-woven on a horizontal treadle loom and strips measuring about 4 inches wide are sewn together into larger pieces of cloths.^[193] Cloths come in various colours, sizes and designs and are worn during very important social and religious occasions.^[193] In a cultural context, kente is more important than just a cloth and it is a visual representation of history and also a form of written language through weaving.^[193] The term kente has its roots in the Akan word kɛntɛn which means a basket and the first kente weavers used raffia fibres to weave cloths that looked like kenten (a basket); and thus were referred to as kenten ntoma; meaning basket cloth.^[193] The original Akan name of the cloth was nsaduaso or nwontoma, meaning "a cloth hand-woven on a loom"; however, "kente" is the most frequently used term today.^[193]

Music and dance

Main articles: Music of Ghana, Azonto and Kpanlogo

Ghana Cultural Dance Group performing Ghanaian dance forms and wearing the Ghanaian kente cloth clothing; and Ghana drummers.

The music of Ghana is diverse and varies between different ethnic groups and regions. Ghanaian music incorporates several distinct types of musical instruments such as the talking drum ensembles, Akan drum, goje fiddle and koloko lute, court music, including the Akan Seperewa, the Akan atumpan, the Ga kpanlogo styles, and log xylophones used in asonko music.^[194] The most well known genres to have come from Ghana are African jazz which was created by Ghanaian artist Kofi Ghanaba.^[195] and its earliest form of secular music is called highlife.^[194] Highlife originated in the late 19th century and early 20th century and spread throughout West Africa.^[194] In the 1990s a new genre of music was created by the youth incorporating the influences of highlife, Afro-reggae, dancehall and hiphop.^[194] This hybrid was called Hiplife.^[194] Ghanaian artists such as R&B and soul singer Rhian Benson and Sarkodie have had international success.^[196][197]
Ghanaian dance is as diverse as its music, and there are traditional dances and different dances for different occasions.^[198] The most known Ghanaian dances are those for celebrations. Some of these dances include Adowa, Kpanlogo, Azonto, Klama, and Bamaya.^[198]

Film

Popular actors of Ghanaian ancestry; Van Vicker, and international actors Boris Kodjoe and Idris Elba.

Ghana has a budding and thriving film industry. Ghana's film industry dates as far back as 1948 when the Gold Coast Film Unit was set up in the Information Services Department.^[199] Some internationally recognized films have come from Ghana. In 1970, I Told You So was one of the first Ghanaian films to received international acknowledgement and great reviews by The New York Times.^[200] It was followed by the 1973 Ghanaian and Italian production The African Deal also known as "Contratto carnale" featuring Bahamian American actor Calvin Lockhart.^[201] 1983's Kukurantumi: the Road to Accra, a Ghanaian and German production directed by King Ampaw was written about by famous American film critic Vincent Canby.^[202] In 1987, Cobra Verde another Ghanaian and German production directed by Werner Herzog received international acclamation and in 1988, Heritage Africa won more than 12 film awards.
In recent times there has been some collaboration between Ghanaian and Nigerian crew and cast with a number of productions being turned out. Many Ghanaian films are co-produced with Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry and some are distributed by Nigerian marketers. Also, Nigerian filmmakers usually feature Ghanaian actors and actresses in their movies and Ghanaian filmmakers feature Nigerian actors and actresses in theirs. Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, Lydia Forson and Jackie Appiah all popular Ghanaian actresses and Van Vicker and Majid Michel both popular Ghanaian actors, have starred in many Nigerian movies. As a result of these collaborations, Western viewers oftentimes confused Ghanaian movies with Nollywood and count their sales as one; however, they are two independent industries that sometimes share the colloquial Nollywood. In 2009, Unesco described Nollywood as being the second-biggest film industry in the world after Bollywood.^[203]

Media

Main article: Media of Ghana

Ghana mass media, news and information provided by television

The media of Ghana is one of the most free in Africa. Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees freedom of the press and independence of the media, while Chapter 2 prohibits censorship.^[204] Post independence, the government and media often had a tense relationship, with private outlets closed during the military governments and strict media laws that prevent criticism of government.^[205] The media freedoms were restored in 1992, and after the election in 2000 of John Agyekum Kufuor the tensions between the private media and government decreased. Kufuor was a supporter of press freedom and repealed a libel law, though maintained that the media had to act responsibly.^[206] The Ghanaian media has been described as "one of the most unfettered" in Africa, operating with little restriction on private media. The private press often carries criticism of government policy.^[207]

Sports

See also: Ghana at the Winter Olympics and Ghana at the Olympics

The Ghanaian national football team squad that was crowned Champions of the 1965 African Cup of Nations in the year 1965 with the Trophy of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Football is the most popular sport in Ghana

Association football is the most spectated sport in Ghana and the national men's football team is known as the Black Stars, with the under-20 team known as the Black Satellites.^[208] Ghana has participated in many championships including the African Cup of Nations with 4 titles, the FIFA World Cup twice and the FIFA U-20 World Cup with 1 title.^[208] In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ghana became the third African country to reach the quarter-final stage of the World Cup after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.^[209] Ghana national U-20 football team, known as the Black Satellites, is considered to be the feeder team for the Ghana national football team. Ghana is the first and only country on the Africa continent to be crowned FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions,^[208] and two-time runners up in 1993 and 2001. The Ghana national U-17 football team known as the Black Starlets are two-time FIFA U-17 World Cup champions in 1991 and 1995, two-time runners up in 1993 and 1997.^[210]
Ghanaian football teams Asante Kotoko SC and Accra Hearts of Oak SC are the 5th and 9th best football teams on the Africa continent and have won a total of five Africa continental association football and Confederation of African Football trophies; Ghanaian football club Asante Kotoko SC has been crowned two-time CAF Champions League winners in 1970, 1983 and five-time CAF Champions League runners up, and Ghanaian football club Accra Hearts of Oak SC has been crowned 2000 CAF Champions League winner and two-time CAF Champions League runners up, 2001 CAF Super Cup champions and 2004 CAF Confederation Cup champions.^[211] The International Federation of Football History and Statistics crowned Asante Kotoko SC as the African club of the 20th century.^[211] There are several club football teams in Ghana that play in the Ghana Premier League and Division One League, both administered by the Ghana Football Association.^[212]

Ghanaian winter sports olympic team at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Ghana competed in the Winter Olympics in 2010 for the first time, Ghana qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics, scoring 137.5 International Ski Federation points, within the qualifying range of 120-140 points.^[213] Ghanaian skier, Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, nicknamed "The Snow Leopard", became the first Ghanaian to take part in the Winter Olympics, at the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, Canada,^[214] taking part in the slalom skiing.^[215]
Ghana finished 47th out of 102 participating nations, of whom 54 finished in the Alpine skiing slalom.^[216][217] Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong broke on the international skiing circuit, being the second black African skier to do so.^[218]
Ghanaian athletes have won a total of four Olympics medals in thirteen appearances at the Summer Olympics, three in boxing, and a bronze medal in association football, and thus became the first country on the Africa continent to win a medal at association football.^[219]
The country has also produced quite a few quality boxers, including Azumah Nelson a three-time world champion and considered as Africa's greatest boxer,^[220][221] Nana Yaw Konadu also a three-time world champion,^[221] Ike Quartey,^[221] and Joshua Clottey.^[221]

Cultural heritage and architecture

See also: Ghana’s material cultural heritage and Ghanaian museums

Ghanaian postmodern architecture and high-tech architecture.

There are two types of Ghanaian traditional construction; The series of adjacent buildings in an enclosure around a common are common and the traditional round huts with grass roof.^[222] The round huts with grass roof architecture are situated in the northern regions of Ghana (Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions), while the series of adjacent buildings are in the southern regions of Ghana (Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra and Western regions).^[222] Ghanaian postmodern architecture and high-tech architecture buildings are predominant in the Ghanaian southern regions, while the Ghanaian heritage sites are most evident by the more than thirty forts and castles built in Ghana. Some of these forts are Fort William and Fort Amsterdam. Ghana has museums that are situated inside castles, and two are situated inside a fort.^[223] The Military Museum and the National Museum organise temporary exhibitions.^[223] Ghana has museums that show a in-depth look at specific Ghanaian regions, there are a number of museums that provide insight into the traditions and history of their own geographical area in Ghana.^[223] The Cape Coast Castle Museum and St. Georges Castle (Elmina Castle) Museum offer guided tours. The Museum of Science and Technology provides its visitors with a look into the domain of Ghanaian scientific development, through exhibits of objects of scientific and technological interest.^[223]

National symbols

Main page: National symbols of Ghana

Tawny Eagle on the Coat of arms of Ghana

Flag of Ghana

The coat of arms depicts two animals: the tawny eagle (Aquila rapax, a very large bird that lives in the savannas and deserts; 35% of Ghana’s landmass is desert, 35% is forest, 30% is savanna) and the lion (Panthera leo, a big cat); a ceremonial sword, an heraldic castle on an heraldic sea, a cocoa tree and a mine shaft representing the industrial mineral wealth of Ghana, and a five-pointed black star rimmed with gold representing the mineral gold wealth of Ghana and the lodestar of the Ghanaian people.^[224] It also has the legend Freedom and Justice.^[224]
The flag of Ghana consists of three horizontal bands (strips) of red (top), gold (middle) and green (bottom); the three bands are the same height and width; the middle band bears a five-pointed black star in the centre of the gold band, the colour red band stands for the blood spilled to achieve the nation's independence: gold stands for Ghana's industrial mineral wealth, and the color green symbolizes the rich tropical rainforests and natural resources of Ghana.^[54][224]

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Ghana

In 2011, 1,087,000 million tourists visited Ghana.^[225]
Tourist arrivals to Ghana include South Americans, Asians, Europeans.^[226] Ghana's all year round tropical warm climate along with its many wildlifes; exotic waterfalls such as Kintampo Waterfalls and the largest waterfall in west Africa, Tagbo Falls; Ghana's coastal palm-lined sandy beaches; caves; mountains, rivers; meteorite impact crater and reservoirs and lakes such as Lake Bosumtwi or Bosumtwi meteorite crater and the largest lake in the world by surface area, Lake Volta; dozens of castles and forts; UNESCO World Heritage Sites; nature reserves and national parks are major tourist destinations in Ghana.^[226]
The World Economic Forum statistics in 2010 showed that Ghana was 108th out of 139 countries as world’s favourite tourism destinations.^[227] The country had moved two places up from the 2009 rankings. In 2011, Forbes Magazine, published that Ghana was ranked the eleventh most friendly country in the world. The assertion was based on a survey in 2010 of a cross-section of travelers. Of all the African countries that were included in the survey Ghana ranked highest.^[227] Tourism is the fourth highest earner of foreign exchange for the country.^[227] Ghana ranks as the seventieth−most stable country in the world and Ghana ranks as the 58th–most peaceful country in the world.^[24]
To enter Ghana, it is necessary to have a visa authorized by the Government of Ghana, except for certain business incubators and business magnates who are on business trips.^[228]

Panorama view of Fort Amsterdam, Ghana in the Central region of Ghana on the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean

See also

• Visa policy of Ghana
• Outline of Ghana
• Index of Ghana-related articles

Ghana portal Africa portal Geography portal

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175. "Ghana Embassy – Population". Ghana Embassy. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
176. "Ghana Demographics Profile 2013". Indexmundi. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
177. "General Information – Key Figures". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
178. "Ghana ethnic groups and languages". Country-data. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
179. "2010 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2013.
180. "The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity". Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. August 9, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
181. "Ghana – population". Library of Congress Country Studies.
182. "The Bureau Of Ghana Languages-BGL". National Commission on Culture. 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
183. "Study of Ghanaian Languages". http://www.africa.upenn.edu. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
184. "Akan (Twi) at Rutgers". amesall.rutgers.edu. Rutgers University Department of African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Languages and Literatures. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
185. http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Ghana.html
186. "Ghana Owes no Apology to Anybody for Aliens Compliance Order". vibeghana.com. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
187. "The History of Ghana’s 1969 Aliens Compliance Order". davidson.edu. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
188. "Ghana deports thousands of illegal Chinese miners". Mail & Guardian. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
189. "Ghana deports thousands in crackdown on illegal Chinese goldminers". theguardian.com. The Guardian. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
190. "2010 Population & Housing Census". statsghana.gov.gh. 2010.
191. Oumou Bah (22 October 2011). "Ghanaian cuisine, dokonu, banku, okra and soup". kadirecipes.com. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
192. "Ghana". Amadeus (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 August 2013.
193. "Ghanaian Kente Cloth". kentecloth.net. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
194. "Ghana: From Highlife to Hiplife". worldmusic.net. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
195. "Ghana: Kofi Ghanaba – Influential Drummer Who Emphasised the African Origins of Jazz". Ghanaian Chronicle. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
196. "Rhian Benson's global soul sound". edition.cnn.com. CNN. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
197. "Sarkodie". ghanacelebrities.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
198. "Dance, Ghana" (PDF). Temple. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
199. "Gold Coast Film Unit". Colonialfilm.org.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
200. I Told You So at the Internet Movie Database
201. "The African Deal (1973)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
202. "Kukurantumi The Road To Accra (1983)". The New York Times. 1 April 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
203. Clayton, Jonathan (3 April 2010). "Nollywood success puts Nigeria’s film industry in regional spotlight". The Times. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
204. Constitution of Ghana at the Wayback Machine (archived March 24, 2008), Government of Ghana.
205. Anokwa, K. (1997). In Press Freedom and Communication in Africa. Erbio, F. & Jong-Ebot, W. (Eds.) Africa World Press. ISBN 978-0-86543-551-3.
206. Basic Data. pressreference.com
207. BBC Country Profile: Ghana, BBC News.
208. "Ghana thrilled by historic title". BBC. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
209. "USA 1–2 Ghana (aet)". BBC. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
210. "World Championship for U-16/U-17 Teams". rsssf.com (Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation). Retrieved 6 June 2014.
211. "Africa's club of the Century". IFFHS official website. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
212. "Premier League". ghanafa.org (Ghana Football Association). Retrieved 6 June 2014.
213. "Base Camp Sponsored Ghanaian skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong has qualified for 2010 Olympics". 0-21 Snowboarding. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
214. Dutta, Kunal (22 October 2009). "Forget Eric the Eel... meet the Snow Leopard". The Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
215. "Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, Alpine Skiing". Vancouver, 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
216. Men's Slalom - Run 2, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games official website. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
217. "Men's Slalom". Vancouver, 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
218. Chris Wilson (3 February 2010). "Ghana’s first winter Olympian gears up for Vancouver Games". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
219. "Ghana clinging to Olympic dream". BBC News. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
220. Errol Barnett (10 August 2012). "Is Azumah Nelson Africa's greatest boxer?". edition.cnn.com (CNN). Retrieved 6 June 2014.
221. "Top 5 Ghanaian Boxers". proboxing-fans.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
222. "Culture, Art and Architecture: Ghana". Countriesquest. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
223. "Ghana Museums and Monuments Board". Retrieved 10 May 2014.
224. "Ghana National Emblems". ghanaembassy.be. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
225. "We Are Serious About Overcoming The Challenges Confronting Tourism Development". Ministry of Tourism Ghana. ghana.gov.gh. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
226. "Trade Expo International Ghana". uniquetrustex.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
227. "Forbes: Ghana is eleventh friendliest nation". www.vibeghana.com. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
228. Harvard quotation. Belda. 2004. ^:24

Further reading

• Arhin, Kwame, The Life and Work of Kwame Nkrumah (Africa Research & Publications, 1995)
• Babatope, Ebenezer, The Ghana Revolution: From Nkrumah to Jerry Rawlings (Fourth Dimension Publishing, 1982)
• Birmingham, David, Kwame Nkrumah: Father Of African Nationalism (Ohio University Press, 1998)
• Boafo-Arthur, Kwame, Ghana: One Decade of the Liberal State (Zed Books Ltd, 2007)
• Briggs, Philip, Ghana (Bradt Travel Guide) (Bradt Travel Guides, 2010)
• Clark, Gracia, African Market Women: Seven Life Stories from Ghana (Indiana University Press, 2010)
• Davidson, Basil, Black Star: A View of the Life and Times of Kwame Nkrumah (James Currey, 2007)
• Falola, Toyin and Salm, Stephen J, Culture and Customs of Ghana (Greenwood, 2002)
• Grant, Richard, Globalizing City: The Urban and Economic Transformation of Accra, Ghana (Syracuse University Press, 2008)
• Hadjor, Kofi Buenor, Nkrumah and Ghana (Africa Research & Publications, 2003)
• Hasty, Jennifer, The Press and Political Culture in Ghana (Indiana University Press, 2005)
• James, C.L.R., Kwame Nkrumah and the Ghana Revolution (Allison & Busby, 1977)
• Kuada, John and Chachah Yao, Ghana. Understanding the People and their Culture (Woeli Publishing Services, 1999)
• Miescher, Stephan F, Making Men in Ghana (Indiana University Press, 2005)
• Milne, June, Kwame Nkrumah, A Biography (Panaf Books, 2006)
• Nkrumah, Kwame, Ghana : The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah (International Publishers, 1971)
• Utley, Ian, Ghana – Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture (Kuperard, 2009)
• Various, Ghana: An African Portrait Revisited (Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2007)
• Younge, Paschal Yao, Music and Dance Traditions of Ghana: History, Performance and Teaching (Mcfarland & Co Inc., 2011)
• Laura Burke, Armando García Schmidt (2013). "Ghana: Staying on Track in a Challenging Environment", in: Bertelsmann Stiftung (ed.): Winning Strategies for a Sustainable Future. Reinhard Mohn Prize 2013. Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh. pp. 127–147. ISBN 978-3-86793-491-6.

External links

Government

• Ghana official website
• The Parliament of Ghana official site
• National Commission on Culture official site

General information

• Country Profile from BBC News
• Ghana from Encyclopaedia Britannica
• Ghana from UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Ghana at DMOZ
• Wikimedia Atlas of Ghana
• The African Activist Archive Project website has photographs of the All Africa People's Conference held in Accra, Ghana, 5–13 December 1958 including Kwame Nkrumah, Prime Minister of Ghana, addressing the conference, the American Committee on Africa delegation meeting with Nkrumah, and of Patrick Duncan and Alfred Hutchinson of South Africa at the conference.
• Key Development Forecasts for Ghana from International Futures

Trade

• Ghana 2012 Summary Trade Statistics

Years in Ghana 1950–1989 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Ghana governments Civilian Nkrumah government Busia government Limann government Rawlings government Kufuor government Mills government Mahama government Military National Liberation Council National Redemption Council Supreme Military Council Armed Forces Revolutionary Council Provisional National Defence Council

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Ghana

Bách khoa toàn thư mở Wikipedia

Cộng hoà Ghana
Republic of Ghana (tiếng Anh)
Quốc kỳ Huy hiệu
Khẩu hiệu
Freedom and Justice (Tiếng Anh: "Tự do và công lý")
Quốc ca
God Bless Our Homeland, Ghana
Hành chính
• Tổng thống	John Dramani Mahama
Ngôn ngữ chính thức	Tiếng Anh
Thủ đô	Accra 5°33′B, 0°15′T
Thành phố lớn nhất	Accra
Địa lý
Diện tích	238.540 km² (hạng 78)
Diện tích nước	3,5% %
Múi giờ	UTC (UTC0)
Ngày thành lập	Từ Anh Ngày 6 tháng 3, 1957
Dân cư
Dân số ước lượng (2005)	21.029.853 người (hạng 50)
Dân số (2005)	21.029.853 người
Mật độ	87 người/km² (hạng 83)
Kinh tế
GDP (PPP)	Tổng số: 54,33 triệu USD
HDI (2003)	0,520 trung bình (hạng 138)
Đơn vị tiền tệ	Cedi (GHC)
Thông tin khác
Tên miền Internet	.gh
Đạo Cơ Đốc 64,1%, tín ngưỡng địa phương 17,6%, đạo hồi 14,4%, Tôn giáo khác 3,9%

Ghana (Tiếng Việt: Ga-na^[1]), tên chính thức là Cộng hòa Ghana (Republic of Ghana) là một quốc gia tại Tây Phi. Ghana có biên giới với Côte d'Ivoire về phía tây, Burkina Faso về phía bắc, Togo về phía đông, còn về phía nam là Vịnh Guinea. Thủ đô và cũng là thành phố lớn nhất của Ghana là Accra.
Người dân Ghana cho rằng lịch sử của họ bắt nguồn từ Vương quốc Ghana cổ xưa tồn tại từ thế kỉ 8 đến thế kỉ 13 tại phía tây châu Phi, nhưng đến khi vương quốc này sụp đổ thì cư dân của nó đã di cư xuống phía nam và lập nên những tiểu quốc Fante và đặc biệt là Vương quốc Ashante hùng mạnh. Những mối liên hệ về thương mại với người Bồ Đào Nha được thiết lập từ thế kỉ 15 và đến năm 1874, Ghana trở thành một thuộc địa của Liên Hiệp Anh với tên gọi Bờ Biển Vàng (Gold Coast). Năm 1957, Ghana trở thành thuộc địa đầu tiên ở vùng Châu Phi hạ Sahara giành được độc lập.
Bờ Biển Vàng giành độc lập từ tay Vương quốc Anh vào năm 1957 và trở thành quốc gia độc lập đầu tiên ở khu vực hạ Sahara.^[2][3][4] Ghana được chọn làm tên mới cho quốc gia này để ghi nhớ Đế chế Ghana, đã từng trải dài khắp cả khu vực Tây Phi. Ghana là thành viên của Khu vực hòa bình và hợp tác Nam Đại Tây Dương, Khối thịnh vượng chung, Cộng đồng Kinh tế Tây Phi, Liên minh châu Phi và là thành viên liên kết của Cộng đồng Pháp ngữ. Ghana là nước có sản lượng cacao đứng thứ 2 thế giới. Hồ nhân tạo lớn nhất thế giới về diện tích bề mặt Volta nằm ở quốc gia này.^[5]

Mục lục

• 1 Từ nguyên học
• 2 Lịch sử
• 3 Chính trị
  • 3.1 Chính phủ
  • 3.2 Hệ thống tòa án
  • 3.3 Chính trị
  • 3.4 Ngoại giao
• 4 Kinh tế
• 5 Vùng và khu hành chính
  • 5.1 Dân số của các thành phố lớn
• 6 Địa lý
• 7 Dân cư
• 8 Ngôn ngữ
• 9 Văn hóa và con người
  • 9.1 Thể thao
• 10 Tôn giáo
• 11 Giáo dục
• 12 Xếp hạng quốc tế
• 13 Ghi chú
• 14 Tham khảo
• 15 Liên kết ngoài

Từ nguyên học

Ghana có nghĩa là "chiến binh của nhà vua" (ngự lâm quân) gắn liền với những vị vua thời trung đại của đế chế Ghana Tây Phi. Trước khi quốc gia Bờ Biển Vàng (Gold Coast) sáp nhập với Togoland thuộc Anh (British Togoland) vào ngày 6 tháng 3 năm 1957, Ghana trở thành tên pháp lý của quốc gia này. Tuy nhiên, sau khi tuyên bố hoàn toàn độc lập với vương quốc Anh, Ghana đã đổi tên thành Cộng hòa Ghana (Republic of Ghana).

Lịch sử

Ghana là một nước có lịch sử lâu đời. Từ thế kỷ 4, đã ra đời Vương quốc Sarakolle rộng lớn, chạy dài từ bờ biển Đại Tây Dương đến sông Niger. Thế kỷ 11, Vương quốc Ghana trở nên cực thịnh với nền nông nghiệp, thủ công, buôn bán phát triển.
Từ năm 1471, người Bồ Đào Nha thám hiểm và khám phá ra vùng bờ biển mà sau này có tên gọi là Gold Coast (Côte de l'Or, Bờ biển Vàng). Họ xây dựng pháo đài Elmina và giữ độc quyền buôn bán vàng trong khoảng một thế kỉ rưỡi. Sau khi loại trừ người Bồ Đào Nha, người Hà Lan, người Anh và một số thương gia châu Âu phân chia quyền kiểm soát và biến vùng này thành trung tâm mua bán nô lệ.
Từ năm 1826, người Anh thực hiện một loạt các chiến dịch chống lại người bản xứ Ashanti ở sâu bên trong nội địa. Vùng duyên hải trở thành thuộc địa Anh (1874). Năm 1901, người Ashanti đầu hàng người Anh và lãnh thổ phía bắc trở thành xứ bảo hộ. Vùng Togoland lân cận, thuộc địa cũ của Đức, thuộc quyền ủy trị của Anh từ năm 1922.
Năm 1957, Gold Coast là thuộc địa đầu tiên ở châu Phi giành được độc lập và đổi tên thành Ghana. Nền cộng hòa ra đời sau khi hiến pháp được thông qua (năm 1960). Chủ nghĩa chuyên quyền của Tổng thống Kwame Nkrumah và sự suy thoái kinh tế trong nước dẫn đến cuộc đảo chính quân sự năm 1966.
Từ đó, đất nước rơi vào tình trạng bất ổn chính trị cho đến khi Jerry J. Rawlings lên nắm quyền năm 1981. Rawlings tiến hành khôi phục kinh tế và dân chủ. Được bầu làm Tổng thống năm 1992, Rawlings công bố hiến pháp mới và chấm dứt chế độ quân sự. Ứng cử viên đối lập John Kufuor lên cầm quyền sau khi giành thắng lợi trong cuộc tuyển cử Tổng thống năm 2000.

Chính trị

Bài chi tiết: Chính trị Ghana

Tòa án tối cao Ghana, ở Accra

Quốc khánh lần thứ 50 của Ghana

Theo Bảng xếp hạng Chỉ số thất bại của nhà nước năm 2009, Ghana đứng ở vị trí thứ 124 trên thế giới và đứng áp chót trong số các nước châu Phi, trước Mauritius, dựa theo các số liệu từ năm 2006.^[6] Ghana cũng xếp thứ 7 trong số 48 nước vùng hạ Sahara vào năm 2008 theo chỉ số Ibrahim, phản ánh sự thành công của các chính sách chính phủ đối với dân chúng.^[7]

Chính phủ

Nền dân chủ nghị viện của Ghana được xác lập vào năm 1957, xen kẽ bởi các chính phủ quân sự và dân sự. Tháng 1 năm 1993, chính quyền quân đội đã dọn đường cho sự ra đời của nền cộng hòa thứ 4 sau cuộc bầu cử nghị viện và tổng thống vào cuối năm 1992. Hiến pháp năm 1992 thiết lập cơ cấu quyền lực bao gồm tổng thống, nghị viện, nội các, hội đồng nhà nước và một hệ thống toàn án độc lập. Chính phủ được bầu thông qua phổ thông đầu phiếu, tuy nhiện cơ quan lập pháp của Ghana được cơ cấu không theo tỉ lệ, một số tỉnh có dân số ít lại có số đại biểu nhiều hơn các tỉnh có dân số đồng hơn.^[8]

Hệ thống tòa án

Hệ thống pháp luật dựa trên thông luật của Anh, tiền lệ án, và hiến pháp năm 1992. Hệ thống cấp bậc toà án bao gồm Toà án tối cao Ghana, Toà án cấp phúc thẩm, và Tòa án tư pháp. Các thiết chế tư pháp ngoài toà án là các Toà án công cộng. Từ khi giành độc lập cho đến nền cộng hòa thứ 4, các Toà án đã và đang duy trì được tính độc lập tương đối.^[8]

Kofi Annan

Chính trị

Các đảng phái chính trị được hoạt động hợp pháp từ giữa năm 1992 sau 10 năm bị gián đoạn. Nền cộng hòa thứ 4 xuất hiện rất nhiều đảng phái khác nhau, bao gồm Đảng Đại hội quốc gia dân chủ (đã giành chiến thắng trong cuộc bầu cử tổng thống và nghị viện vào các năm 1992, 1996 và 2008) và Đảng Những người ái quốc mới, đảng đối lập đã giành chiến thắng trong các năm 2000 và 2004; Đảng Hội nghị quốc gia nhân dân và Đảng Hội nghị nhân dân, do Kwame Nkrumah sáng lập.^[8]

Ngoại giao

Từ khi giành độc lập, Ghana luôn ủng hộ xu hướng không liên kết và chủ nghĩa Pan-Africanism gắn liền với tên tuổi của vị tổng thống đầu tiên, TS. Kwame Nkrumah. Ghana ưu tiên các quan hệ hợp tác quốc tế và khu vực về chính trị cũng như kinh tế, đồng thời cũng là một thành viên tích cực của Liên hợp quốc và Liên minh Châu Phi.^{[cần dẫn nguồn]}
Ghana thực hiện đường lối đối ngoại đa dạng hoá, đa phương hoá, coi trọng quan hệ với Mỹ, Tây Âu, Nhật Bản để tranh thủ vốn, kỹ thuật. Ghana nhận được sự trợ giúp của Mỹ trong khuôn khổ chương trình “đào tạo các chuyên gia quân sự nước ngoài” (IMET), chương trình “trợ giúp trong việc huấn luyện tiến hành các hoạt động chống khủng bố tại châu Phi” (ACOTA).
Nhiều chính trị gia và nhà ngoại giao Ghana đang làm việc tại các tổ chức quốc tế, trong số đó phải kể đến cựu Tổng thư ký Liên hợp quốc Kofi Annan, thẩm phán Tòa án hình sự quốc tế Akua Kuenyehia và cựu tổng thống Jerry Rawlings, đang là chủ tịch của Cộng đồng kinh tế Tây Phi.^[8]
Ghana hiện là thành viên tích cực của nhiều tổ chức khu vực và quốc tế như: WTO, Phong trào không liên kết (NAM), Liên minh châu Phi (AU), Cộng đồng Kinh tế Tây Phi (ECOWAS).

Kinh tế

Bài chi tiết: Kinh tế Ghana

Được thiên nhiên ưu đãi, Ghana có thu nhập đầu người cao gấp hai lần các quốc gia khác ở Tây Phi. Mặc dù vậy, Ghana vẫn có những lợi tức khác từ thương mại và hỗ trợ quốc tế như các hoạt động đầu tư của những người có gốc gác Ghana ở nước ngoài. Khoảng 28% dân số sống dưới mức nghèo với $1.25 đô la Mỹ / ngày. Phần lớn trong số đó là những phụ nữ Ghana bị ảnh hưởng bởi những lý do chính trị ở các khu vực nghèo đói phía bắc của Ghana.^[9] and according to the World Bank, Ghana's per capita income has barely doubled over the past 45 years.^[10] Từ thời thuộc địa đến hiện tại, Ghana được biết đến là một trong những nước sản xuất vàng nhiều nhất thế giới. Những mặt hàng xuất khẩu khác như cacao, gỗ, điện, kim cương, bauxite,^[11] và mangan là những nguồn thu ngoại tệ chính của Ghana, được trực tiếp điều khiển và chỉ đạo bởi Bộ Nông nghiệp thuộc tổng thống, đứng đầu là bà Antoinette Efua-Addo (xem thêm thông tin tại www.Ghana-agricexport.com).^[12] Một mỏ dầu được cho là có khoảng 3 tỷ thùng (480.000.000 m³) dầu nhẹ đã được phát hiện vào năm 2007.^[13] Việc khai thác dầu mỏ vẫn đang diễn ra và số lượng dầu mỏ khai thác liên tục tăng lên.^[14] Điều này được kì vọng sẽ là một nguồn thu khổng lồ cho kinh tế Ghana kể từ quý IV năm 2010 khi nước này chính thức tăng sản lượng dầu mỏ kinh doanh dầu mỏ.

Tòa nhà Sunyani Cocoa

Đập thủy điện Akosombo được xây dựng vào năm 1965 trên sông Volta cung cấp điện năng cho cả Ghana và các nước láng giềng.
Năm 2008, lực lượng lao động của Ghana có khoảng 11,5 triệu người.^[15] Kinh tế của Ghana chủ yếu vẫn dựa vào nông nghiệp, chiếm tới 37,3% GDP và cung cấp việc làm cho 56% số người lao động,^[15] phần lớn trong số đó là những người sản xuất nhỏ. Tỉ trọng công nghiệp của Ghana vào năm 2007 chiếm 7,9% GDP.^[16]
Những chính sách không mấy hiệu quả của chính quyền quân sự cũ và các cam kết giữ gìn hòa bình khu vực đã dẫn đến tình trạng lạm phát thâm hụt tài chính, sự sụt giá của đồng Cedi cũng như sự không hài lòng của công chúng với những biện pháp kém cỏi của chính phủ Ghana. Mặc dầu vậy, Ghana vẫn là một trong những quốc gia ổn định về kinh tế nhất châu lục Đen.
Tháng 7 năm 2007, Ngân hàng nhà nước Ghana quyết định thay đổi đồng tiền đang sử dụng Cedi (¢) sang đồng Ghana Cedi (GH¢) để tái kiểm soát tiền tệ trong nước. Tỉ giá của thu đổi là 1 Ghana Cedi cho 10,000 Cedi (cũ). Ngân hàng nhà nước Ghana đã tiến hành các chiến dịch truyền thông mạnh mẽ nhằm thông báo cho người dân Ghana về chính sách này.
Đồng tiền mới, Ghana Cedi, đã dần đi vào ổn định và đến năm 2009 trung bình $1 USD =Gh¢ 1.4 ^[15]. Thuế giá trị gia tăng (VAT) cũng được áp dụng ở Ghana bắt đầu từ năm 1989 với một mức tỉ lệ áp dụng chung cho tất cả (các loại hàng hóa hoặc cá nhân). Bắt đầu từ tháng 9 năm 2007, chế độ thuế được chia thành nhiều mức tỉ lệ khác nhau.
Năm 1998, mức thuế VAT ở Ghana là 10% và được điều chỉnh thành 12.5% vào năm 2000. Tuy nhiên với việc thông qua luật 734 năm 2007, mô hình VAT 3% đối với khu vực bán lẻ bắt đầu được triển khai. Mô hình này chỉ cho phép người bán lẻ các mặt hàng chịu thuế (được quy định theo luật 546) tính thêm tối đa 3% giá trị của mặt hàng được bán so với kê khai. Mục đích của luật này nhằm đơn giản hóa hệ thống thuế và gia tăng sự ủng hộ của người dân. ^{[cần dẫn nguồn]}
Từ giữa tháng 12 năm 2010, ngành sản xuất dầu khí tại Ghana đã bắt đầu hoạt động và được kỳ vọng sẽ thúc đẩy tăng trưởng kinh tế (mỏ dầu ngoài khơi Jubilee có trữ lượng lên tới 3 tỷ thùng).^[17]

Vùng và khu hành chính

Bài chi tiết: Các khu vực Ghana và Tỉnh lị Ghana

Regions of Ghana

Ghana được phân chia thành 10 khu vực hành chính và 138 quận, huyện, mỗi huyện hội đồng riêng của mình. Dưới huyện là các loại hình hội đồng, bao gồm 58 thị xã, khu vực hội đồng, hội đồng khu, 108, và 626 hội đồng khu vực. Các khu vực hành chính bao gồm:

Ashanti, thủ phủ Kumasi Brong Ahafo, thủ phủ Sunyani Central, thủ phủ Cape Coast Eastern, thủ phủ Koforidua Greater Accra, thủ phủ Accra

Northern, thủ phủ Tamale Upper East, thủ phủ Bolgatanga Upper West, thủ phủ Wa Volta, thủ phủ Ho Western, thủ phủ Sekondi-Takoradi

Dân số của các thành phố lớn

Thành phố	Dân số
Accra	3.963.264
Kumasi	2.604.909
Tamale	390,730
Takoradi	260,651
Tema	229,106
Teshie	154,513
Sekondi	153,900
Cape Coast	200,204
Obuasi	147,613
Dunkwa-On-Offin	108,482

Địa lý

Bài chi tiết: Địa lý Ghana

Vườn bách thảo Aburi

Sông Volta

Bãi biển ở Ghana

Voi ở rừng quốc gia Mole

Ghana nằm trong khu vực Vịnh Ghana, rất gần với đường xích đạo nên có một khí hậu ấm áp. Diện tích của Ghana trải dài trên một khu vực rộng 238500 km2. phía đông giáp Togo, phía tây giáp Bờ Biển Ngà, phía bắc giáp Burkina Faso và còn phía nam giáp Vịnh Ghana (Đại Tây Dương). Kinh tuyến Greenwich chạy dọc theo quốc gia này, chính xác là ở thành phố công nghiệp Tema. Về mặt địa lý, Ghana là quốc gia gần với "trung tâm" của thế giới nhất. Mặc dù trên thực tế, điểm trung tâm thật sự (0°, 0°) nằm trên Vịnh Ghana (Đại Tây Dương), cách Accra của Ghana khoảng 614 km về phía nam.^[18]
Ghana được bao phủ bởi những đồng bằng, đồi núi thấp và một số sông ngòi. Ghana có thể được chia thành 5 khu vực địa hình khác nhau. Đường bờ biển thấp với các bãi cát xoay lưng về phía đồng bằng và những rừng cây nhỏ, đồng thời bị chia cắt bởi các sông và suối. Trong khi đó, phía bắc của Ghana nổi bật bởi các cao nguyên. Tây Nam và Nam Ghana có được núi rừng che phủ, trong đó có vùng núi Ashanti, cao nguyên Kwahu và Akuapim-Togo chạy dọc sườn đông của đất nước.
Lưu vực sông Volta chiếm một diện tích lớn khu vực trung tâm của Ghana. Điểm cao nhất của Ghana là đỉnh núi Afadjato.
Ghana có khí hậu nhiệt đới. Dải bờ biển phía đông ấm và khô; khu vực tây nam nóng và ẩm ướt, trong khi phía bắc lại nóng và khô. Hồ Volta, hồ nhân tạo lớn nhất thế giới, bao phủ một tỉ lệ không nhỏ phần đất phía đông của Ghana, là nguồn nước chính cho nhiều con sông khác như Oti hoặc Afram.
Khí hậu ở Ghana chia thành 2 mùa chính: mùa mưa và mùa khô. phía bắc Ghana mùa mưa bắt đầu từ tháng 3 cho đến tháng 11, trong khi ở phía nam, bao gồm cả thủ đô Accra, mùa mưa thường bắt đầu từ tháng 4 cho đến trung tuần tháng 11. phía nam của Ghana bao gồm những rừng cây nhiệt đới và rụng lá lớn. Ngoài ra khu vực này còn có những rừng cọ dầu và ngập mặn khác.

Dân cư

Dân số Ghana vào khoảng 24 triệu người bao gồm hơn 100 nhóm dân tộc khác nhau. Tuy vậy, ở Ghana không có những xung đột dân tộc gay gắt có thể dẫn đến nội chiến như ở nhiều nước châu Phi khác.^[19] Ngôn ngữ chính thức ở Ghana là tiếng Anh tuy nhiên hầu hết người dân Ghana đều biết ít nhất một thổ ngữ.
Nhóm dân tộc chính ở Ghana là người Akan, trong đó có người Fante, Akyem, Ashanti, Kwahu, Akuapem, Nzema, Bono, Akwamu, Ahanta and others) 49.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme (comprising of the Ga, Adangbe, Ada, Krobo and others) 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Gurunsi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other (Hausa, Zabarema, Fulani) 1.8% (2000 census).
Theo CIA World Factbook, các nhóm tôn giáo ở Ghana bao gồm: Thiên chúa giáo 68.8%, Hồi giáo 15.9%, tín ngưỡng truyền thống của người Phi 8.5%^[20][21].

Ngôn ngữ

Ở Ghana có 47 thổ ngữ. Tiếng Anh là ngôn ngữ chính thức của Ghana trong thương mại cũng như hành chính. Tiếng Anh cũng là ngôn ngữ tiêu chuẩn để giảng dạy ở các cấp giáo dục. Ngôn ngữ bản địa của Ghana được chia thành hai nhóm nhỏ thuộc nhóm ngôn ngữ Niger-Congo.

Văn hóa và con người

Ghana là một quốc gia đa dạng về thành phần dân tộc. Do đó, văn hóa của Ghana là sự pha trộn của tất cả các nền văn hóa của mọi nhóm dân tộc của quốc gia này: người Ashanti, người Fante, người Kwahu, người Ga, người Ewe, người Mamprusi, người Dagomba và các nhóm dân tộc thiểu số khác. Sự đa dạng văn hóa này thể hiện rất rõ trong cách ăn, cách mặc và nghệ thuật của người dân Ghana. Một số nghi lễ đặc trưng của văn hóa Ghana cho đến hiện tại vẫn còn rất phổ biến ở quốc gia này như lễ sinh con, lễ trưởng thành, kết hôn và ma chay.

Thể thao

Ở Ghana, bóng đá là môn thể thao phổ biến và được yêu thích nhất. Đội tuyển bóng đá quốc gia Ghana thường được gọi là "Những ngôi sao đen". Ngày 16 tháng 10 năm 2009, đội tuyển bóng đá U-20 Ghana đã trở thành đội tuyển quốc gia đầu tiên của châu Phi đoạt ngôi vô địch U-20 thế giới sau chiến thắng ở loạt sút luân lưu 11m với Brasil.
Ghana cũng là quốc gia đầu tiên của châu Phi giành chiến thắng ở vòng chung kết bóng đá thế giới World Cup 2010 diễn ra tại chính châu lục này sau khi đánh bại Serbia với tỉ số 1-0. Ghana cũng chính là đội tuyển quốc gia châu Phi duy nhất lọt vòng vòng knock-out của giải đấu này và đội bóng thứ 3 châu Phi góp mặt tại vòng tứ kết World Cup.

Tôn giáo

Nhà thờ Wesley Methodist, Kumasi

Kitô giáo là tôn giáo lớn nhất của đất nước, và chiếm ưu thế ở phía nam Ghana và các bộ phận của miền Bắc Ghana, trong khi Hồi giáo phổ biến rộng rãi hơn trong các bộ phận của khu vực phía Bắc. Kitô giáo được theo bởi 71,2% dân số, theo điều tra dân số năm 2010.^[22] Kitô giáo đã được giới thiệu bởi người châu Âu trên bờ biển của Ghana trong thế kỷ 14, và dần dần người dân nước này đã tin theo tôn giáo mới.^[23]
Hồi giáo là đức tin của 17,6% dân số.^[22] Nó được truyền bá đến phía Bắc Ghana trong thế kỷ 15.^[24] Kitô giáo và Hồi giáo ở Ghana chung sống hòa bình với nhau.
Điều tra dân số năm 2010 cho biết 5,3% dân số Ghana tuyên bố không có tôn giáo, tôn giáo truyền thống được thực hiện bởi 5,2% dân số, theo điều tra dân số năm 2010. Ấn Độ giáo cũng có mặt ở quốc gia này với một Tu viện do giáo sĩ Swami Ghananand Saraswati điều hành.^[25] Đạo giáo và Phật giáo cũng đã xuất hiện ở Ghana do người Trung Quốc mang đến.^[26]

Giáo dục

Xếp hạng quốc tế

Bài chi tiết: International rankings of Ghana

Tổ chức	Khảo sát về	Xếp hạng
Institute for Economics and Peace [3]	Chỉ số chung về hòa bình (Global Peace Index)[27]	52 trên 144
Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal	Chỉ số tự do kinh tế (Index of Economic Freedom)	91 trên 157[28]
Ký giả không biên giới	Chỉ số tự do báo chí	31 trên 173[29]
Transparency International	Chỉ số nhận thức tham nhũng (Corruption Perception Index)	69 trên 179[30]
Chương trình phát triển của Liên hợp quốc	Chỉ số phát triển con người (Human Development Index)	135 trên 177[31]
Vision of Humanity	Chỉ số chung về hòa bình (Global Peace Index)	40 trên 121[32]
Diễn đàn kinh tế thế giới	Báo cáo cạnh tranh toàn cầu (Global Competitiveness Report)	không được xếp hạng[33]

Ghi chú

1. ^ Trần, Văn Bình; Phan Doãn Nam (2001). Giáo trình Lịch sử quan hệ quốc tế. Hà Nội: Học viện quan hệ quốc tế. tr. 265.

Tham khảo

1. ^ Thông tin cơ bản về các nước, khu vực và quan hệ với Việt Nam, Bộ Ngoại Giao Việt Nam.
2. ^ Peter N. Stearns and William Leonard Langer. The Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern, Chronologically Arranged, 2001. Pages 813, 1050.
3. ^ “Ghana - MSN Encarta”. Bản gốc lưu trữ ngày 31 tháng 10 năm 2009., encarta.msn.com
4. ^ “NEWS.BBC.co.uk”. NEWS.BBC.co.uk. 9 tháng 2 năm 2010. Truy cập ngày 26 tháng 6 năm 2010.
5. ^ “Geography.about.com”. Geography.about.com. Truy cập ngày 26 tháng 6 năm 2010.
6. ^ “Foreignpolicy.com” (PDF). Truy cập ngày 26 tháng 6 năm 2010.
7. ^ “Welcome to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation”. Moibrahimfoundation.org. Truy cập ngày 26 tháng 6 năm 2010.
8. ^ ^{a ă â b} "Government and Politics". A Country Study: Ghana (La Verle Berry, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (tháng 11 năm 1994). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Lcweb2.loc.gov
9. ^ [1] Human Development Indices, Table 3: Human and income poverty, p. 35. Truy cập 1 tháng 6 năm 2009
10. ^ “Obama's Ghana trip sends message across Africa”. CNN. 10 tháng 7 năm 2009.
11. ^ “Aluworks.com”. Aluworks.com. Truy cập ngày 26 tháng 6 năm 2010.
12. ^ The World Factbook
13. ^ Ghana leader: Oil reserves at 3B barrels - Yahoo! News
14. ^ “Kosmos Makes Second Oil Discovery Offshore Ghana”. Rigzone.com. 25 tháng 2 năm 2008. Truy cập ngày 26 tháng 6 năm 2010.
15. ^ ^{a ă â} [2]^{[liên kết hỏng]}
16. ^ “Ghana - MSN Encarta”. Bản gốc lưu trữ ngày 31 tháng 10 năm 2009., encarta.msn.com
17. ^ Tài Liệu Cơ Bản Về Ghana Và Quan Hệ Với Việt Nam
18. ^ Extreme points of Earth
19. ^ “Ghana - MSN Encarta”. Bản gốc lưu trữ ngày 31 tháng 10 năm 2009.
20. ^ “International Religious Freedom Report 2007”. U.S. Department of State. Truy cập 5 tháng 12 năm 2009.
21. ^ “CIA - The World Factbook - Ghana”. U.S. CIA. Truy cập 5 tháng 12 năm 2009.
22. ^ ^{a ă} 2010 Population and Housing Census
23. ^ Ghana Religion – OverLandingAfrica. overlandingafrica.com. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
24. ^ "International Religious Freedom Report 2007". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
25. ^ Trisha Gupta (15 August 2009). "Culture & Society – The Swami of Accra". tehelka.com. Tehelka. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
26. ^ ^ Rajesh Joshi (29 June 2010). "Ghana's unique African-Hindu temple". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
27. ^ “Vision of Humanity”. Vision of Humanity. Truy cập ngày 4 tháng 2 năm 2010.
28. ^ “Heritage Foundation - 2007 Index of Economic Freedom”. Official Website for the Index. The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation. Bản gốc lưu trữ ngày 13 tháng 2 năm 2008. Truy cập ngày 24 tháng 2 năm 2007. “The highest form of economic freedom provides an absolute right of property ownership, fully realised freedoms of movement for labour, capital, and goods, and an absolute absence of coercion or constraint of economic liberty beyond the extent necessary for citizens to protect and maintain liberty itself. In other words, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please, and that freedom is both protected by the state and unconstrained by the state.”
29. ^ “Reporters Without Borders - Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2008”. Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index. Reporters sans frontières. Truy cập ngày 12 tháng 1 năm 2009.
30. ^ “Corruption Perception Index 2007”. Official Website. Transparency International e.V. Truy cập ngày 11 tháng 12 năm 2007.
31. ^ “Human Development Report 2006” (PDF). Annual Report. United Nations Development Programme. Bản gốc lưu trữ ngày 29 tháng 10 năm 2007. Truy cập ngày 24 tháng 2 năm 2007.
32. ^ “Global Peace Index Rankings”. Global Peace and Sustainability. Economist Intelligence Unit, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, Australia and some Peace Institutes and Think Tanks. Truy cập ngày 30 tháng 5 năm 2007.
33. ^ “Table 1: Global Competitiveness Index rankings and 2005 comparisons” (PDF). World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report 2006 - 2007. World Economic Forum. Truy cập ngày 24 tháng 2 năm 2007.

Liên kết ngoài

Wikimedia Commons có thêm thể loại hình ảnh và tài liệu về Ghana

Tìm hiểu thêm về Ghana ở các dự án khác của Wikipedia:
	Định nghĩa ở Wiktionary
	Nội dung đa phương tiện ở Commons
	Tư liệu học tập ở Wikiversity
	Tin tức ở Wikinews
	Câu nói nổi tiếng ở Wikiquote
	Văn bản ở Wikisource
	Sách ở Wikibooks

• Business Anti-Corruption Portal Ghana country profile

Chính phủ

• Ghana official website
• The Parliament of Ghana official site
• National Commission on Culture official site
• Chief of State and Cabinet Members

Thông tin chung

• Country Profile from BBC News
• Ghana from Encyclopaedia Britannica
• Ghana from UCB Libraries GovPubs
• Ghana tại Dự án thư viện mở (trang đề nghị)

• Wikimedia Atlas của Ghana, có một số bản đồ liên quan đến Ghana.
• The African Activist Archive Project website has photographs of the All Africa People's Conference held in Accra, Ghana, 5–13 December 1958 including Kwame Nkrumah, Prime Minister of Ghana, addressing the conference, the American Committee on Africa delegation meeting with Nkrumah, and of Patrick Duncan and Alfred Hutchinson of South Africa at the conference.
• Key Development Forecasts for Ghana from International Futures

Thể thao

• 1st Online Ghana Sports Portal

Các quốc gia và lãnh thổ tại Châu Phi

Khối Thịnh vượng chung Anh

Thể loại:

• Ghana
• Quốc gia thành viên Khối Thịnh vượng chung Anh
• Quốc gia và vùng lãnh thổ nói tiếng Anh
• Cộng hòa

TÓM TẮT

Ghana tên chính thức là Cộng hòa Ghana (Republic of Ghana) là một quốc gia tại Tây Phi. Ghana có biên giới với Côte d'Ivoire về phía tây, Burkina Faso về phía bắc, Togo về phía đông, còn về phía nam là Vịnh Guinea. Thủ đô và cũng là thành phố lớn nhất của Ghana là Accra. Diện tích 238.540 km². Ngày thành lập 6 tháng 3 năm 1957, Ghana là thuộc địa của Liên Hiệp Anh với tên gọi Bờ Biển Vàng (Gold Coast) trở thành thuộc địa đầu tiên ở vùng Châu Phi hạ Sahara giành được độc lập. Dân số khoảng  24,0 triệu người. ngôn ngữ chính tiếng Anh. Tôn giáo chính thiên chúa giáo. Khí hậu ấm áp tương tự Việt Nam. Văn hóa đa dạng.  Kinh tế của Ghana chủ yếu vẫn dựa vào nông nghiệp, chiếm tới 37,3% GDP và cung cấp việc làm cho 56% số người lao động, phần lớn trong số đó là những người sản xuất nhỏ. Tỉ trọng công nghiệp của Ghana vào năm 2007 chiếm 7,9% GDP. Ghana được biết đến là một trong những nước sản xuất vàng nhiều nhất thế giới. Những mặt hàng xuất khẩu khác như cacao, gỗ, điện, kim cương, bauxite,và mangan là những nguồn thu ngoại tệ chính của Ghana. Những nhân vật người Ghana được nhiều người biết: cựu Tổng thư ký Liên hợp quốc Kofi Annan, thẩm phán Tòa án hình sự quốc tế Akua Kuenyehia và cựu tổng thống Jerry Rawlings, đang là chủ tịch của Cộng đồng kinh tế Tây Phi, cưu tổng thống John Atta Mills, tổng thống đương nhiệm John Dramani Mahama. Bóng đá Ghana là đội bóng châu Phi góp mặt tại vòng tứ kết World Cup.


Video yêu thích   
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Trở về trang chính
Hoàng Kim, hoangkim, hoangkimvietnam, Ngọc Phương Nam,  Chào ngày mới Thung dung, Dạy và học, Cây Lương thực, Tin Nông nghiệp Việt Nam, Food Crops, Cassava in Vietnam, Khát khao xanh, Dayvahoc, Học mỗi ngày,  Danh nhân Việt , Food Crops News, Điểm chính, CNM365, Kim LinkedIn, KimTwitter, KimFaceBook  Đọc lại và suy ngẫm, Việt Nam tổ quốc tôi, Tình yêu cuộc sống,  Thơ cho con