Statistical information Ghana 1993

Ghana in the World
Ghana - Introduction 1993
top of pageBackground: Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory Ghana in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution restoring multiparty politics was approved in 1992.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: land: 230,020 km²
Land boundaries:
total 2,093 km, Burkina 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km,
Togo 877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
ElevationNatural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land useArable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 7%
Meadows and pastures: 15%
Forest and woodland: 37%
Other: 36%
Irrigated land: 80 km² (1989)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 16,699,105 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 3.12% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Ghanaian(s)
Adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups:
black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%,
Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Languages:
English (official), African languages (including Akan,
Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.12% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 44.66 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 12.52 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -1 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: recent drought in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; dry, northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
Current issues note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 55.19 years
Male: 53.27 years
Female: 57.17 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.21 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 60%
Male: 70%
Female: 51%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Ghana
Conventional short form: Ghana
Former: Gold Coast
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Accra
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central,
Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Dependent areasIndependenceNational holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at 18
Executive branch: president, cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph ABBEY
In the us chancery: 3,512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: (202) 686-4,520
In the us consulate general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN
From the us embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
From the us telephone: 233 (21) 775,348, 775,349, 775,295 or 775,298
From the us fax: 233 (21) 776,008 pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
Flag description
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana has been implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983, including moves toward privatization and relaxation of government controls. Heavily dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports, economic growth so far has not spread substantially to other areas of the economy. The costs of sending peacekeeping forces to Liberia and preparing for the transition to a democratic government have boosted government expenditures and undercut structural adjustment reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in 1990. Meanwhile, declining world commodity prices for Ghana's exports has placed the government under severe financial pressure.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3.9% (1992 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $410 (1992 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for about 50% of GDP (including fishing and forestry; the major cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops - rice, coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, timber; normally self-sufficient in food
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 4.6% in manufacturing (1991; accounts for almost 15% of GDP
Labor force: 3.7 million
By occupation agriculture and fishing: 54.7%
By occupation industry: 18.7%
By occupation sales and clerical: 15.2%
By occupation services transportation and communications: 7.7%
By occupation professional:3.7%
48% of population of working age (1983)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1991)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1.0 billion; expenditures $905 million, including capital expenditures of $200 million (1991 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: cocoa 45%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum
Partners: Germany 29%, UK 12%, US 12%, Japan 5%
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods, capital equipment
Partners: UK 23%, US 11%, Germany 10%, Japan 6%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: ceolis per US$1 - 437 (July 1992)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1,180,000 kW capacity; 4,490 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1991)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaGhana - Communication 1993
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, less than 1% of GDP (1989 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsGhana - Transportation 1993
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 10
Usable: 9
With permanentsurface runways: 5
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 2
With runways 1220-2439 m: 6
HeliportsPipelines: none
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
Merchant marine:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,293 GRT/78,246
DWT; includes 5 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo
Ports and terminalsGhana - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $106 million