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HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND |
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| PREZ. J.A KUFFOUR |
Until its independence from British colonial
rule on March 6, 1957, Ghana was called the “Gold Coast”,
a name given to it by early Portuguese explorers who first
set foot on the shores of the country in the fifteenth century.
The name aptly described the country’s wealth in gold
and natural resources, which include to the present day:
• rich mineral resources such as gold,
diamonds, manganese, bauxite, iron ore and various clay
and salt deposits;
• extensive rich forests with a wide range of tropical
hardwoods;
• a wide variety of agricultural products and rich
fishing resources; and
• unique tourist attractions, including beautiful
landscapes, inviting sunshine, golden beaches, wildlife
parks, the countryside with its rich cultural heritage,
and the proverbial warmth and hospitality of the people.
During various periods from the time the
Portuguese discovered gold in 1471 to independence in 1957,
the monarchs of several European kingdoms, notably Denmark,
England, Holland, Prussia and Sweden, sent hordes of explorers
and merchants to the country for its abundant wealth, both
natural and human. They battled for supremacy and control
over the land, and built forts and castles which also served
as trading posts. Vestiges of the extent of European colonial
presence and concentration of activity in the country are
evidenced by the fact that 29 of the 32 European colonial
forts and castles dotted along the coast of West Africa are
in Ghana.
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| LOCATION |
Ghana is located on the west coast of Africa, about 750 km north
of the equator on the Gulf of Guinea, between the latitudes
of 411.5 north. The capital, Accra is on the Greenwich meridian
(zero lie of longitude). The country has a total land area of
238,305 km_ and is bounded on the north by Burkina Faso, on
the west by Cote d’Ivoire, on the east by Togo and on
the south by the Gulf of Guinea. The land area stretches for
672km north-south and 56km east-west. |
| LAND |
The coastal area of Ghana consists
of plains and numerous lagoons near the estuaries of rivers.
The land is relatively flat and the altitude is generally below
500m, with more than half of the country blow 200m. The Volta
River basin dominates the country’s river system and includes
the 8,480km - Lake Volta (the largest artificial lake in the
world), formed behind the Akosombo hydro-electric dam. In the
north, the predominant vegetation is savannah and shrub while
the south has an extensive rain forest. |
| CLIMATE |
Ghana has a tropical climate, characterised
most of the year by moderate temperatures (generally 21-32 degrees
C (70-90 degrees F), constant breezes and sunshine. There are
two rainy seasons, from March to July and from September to
October, separated by a short dry season in August and a relatively
long dry season in the south from mid October to March. Annual
rainfall in the south averages 2,030 mm but varies greatly throughout
the country, with the heaviest rainfall in the western region
and the lowest in the north. |
| POPULATION |
The population of
Ghana is 18.4 million, with 40.5 percent under 15 years of
age. The country has an average population density of 78.9
percent of persons per square kilometre. Female population
is 50.7 percent an the male population is 49.3 percent. With
an annual growth rate of 2.6% per cent.
Most of the population is concentrated in the
southern part of the country, with the highest densities occurring
in the urban areas and cocoa producing areas. The largest
regions in terms of population are Ashanti (over 3.5 million),
Eastern (over 2 million) and Greater Accra about (about 3
million). (Source: Ghana Statistical Service, January 2002).
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| THE PEOPLE |
- Languages: Ghana’s
principal ethnic groups are the Akans (Twi and Fante-speaking),
the Guans, Ewes, Dagombas, Gas, Gonjas, Dagabas, Walas and
Frafra. Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, Ewe and Nzema are
the major languages, but the official language of the country
is English.
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- Education: There are numerous grammar,
secondary, basic, commercial, technical and vocational education
institutions throughout Ghana. There are four universities:
University of Ghana at Legon near Accra, the University
of Cape Coast, the University of Science and Technology
at Kumasi and the University of Development Studies at Tamale,
as well as one University College of Education of Winneba.
In addition, there are private and other specialised tertiary
institutions in the county. A functional literacy programme
has been initiated in Ghana, targeting illiterate adults.
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- Health: Ghana has a reasonably good health
service. All regional capitals and most districts have hospitals
and clinics, and two teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi
have facilities for treating special cases. Additionally,
a number of religious organizations and private medical
practitioners operate hospitals and clinics all over the
country. Herbal medicine and psychic healing are also generally
practised, and there is a special government Herbal Medicine
Hospital and Research Centre at Akwapim-Mampong.
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- Religion: The population of Ghana comprises
Christians (43 per cent), animists 38 per cent), Muslims
(12 per cent) and others (7 per cent). There is complete
freedom of religion in Ghana.
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| CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT |
| A new constitution,
which was drawn up by a consultative assembly, was approved
in a national referendum in April 1992. It follows the presidential
executive system and guarantees democratic freedom.
After 11 years of military rule, both
presidential and legislative elections were held in November
1992. The administration of the country was handed over to
the elected National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government
in January 1993, the NDC was returned to power in elections
in December 1996. However the New Patriotic Party won the
2000 elections led by His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor.
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