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Country Guide > Africa > Ghana | |
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General Information Area 238,537 sq km (92,100 sq miles).
Population 18,845,265 (official estimate 2000). Population Density 79.0 per sq km. Capital Accra. Population: 1,925,000 (official estimate 2001). Geography Ghana is situated in West Africa and is a rectangular-shaped country bordered to the north by Burkina Faso, the east by Togo, the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by Côte d’Ivoire. A narrow grassy plain stretches inland from the coast, widening in the east, while the south and west are covered by dense rainforest. To the north are forested hills, beyond which is dry savannah and open woodland. In the far north is a plateau averaging 500m (1600ft) in height. In the east the Akuapim Togo hills run inland from the coast along the Togo border. The Black and White Volta rivers enter Ghana from Burkina Faso, merging into the largest manmade lake in the world, Lake Volta. Ghana’s coastline is dotted with sandy palm-fringed beaches and lagoons. Government Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1957. Head of State: President John Agyekum Kufuor since 2000. Language The official language is English. Local Ghanaian languages are widely spoken, including Akan, Ewe, Fante, Ga, Moshi-Dagomba and Twi. Religion Christian (69 per cent), Muslim and traditional beliefs. All forms of religion have a strong influence on Ghanaian life. Time GMT. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz; usually three-pin plugs. Single phase three-pin plugs are used in larger buildings. Older buildings have two-pin plugs. Light bulbs are of the bayonet type. Communications Telephone IDD service is available in most parts of the country. Country code: 233. Outgoing international code: 00. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network. Coverage is patchy outside the capital and larger towns. Operators include Ghana Telecommunications Company Ltd (website: www.ghanatel.net), Millicom Ghana Ltd and Spacefon (website: www.spacefon.com). Fax There is a 24-hour fax service in Accra. Internet ISPs include Ghana.com (website: www.ghana.com). Telegram Services are available from Ghana Telecom, High Street, Accra and Stewart Avenue, Kumasi. There are three charge rates. Post Airmail letters to Europe may take two weeks or more to arrive. Press Daily and weekly newspapers are available in English and include Daily Graphic, The Ghanaian Times (both daily), Business and Financial Times, The Mirror, New Nation and Weekly Spectator (all weekly). Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
