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126-634: Ghana is a West African country in Africa , along the Gulf of Guinea . Ghana encompasses plains , low hills , rivers, Lake Volta , the world's largest artificial lake, Dodi Island and Bobowasi Island on the south Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana. Ghana can be divided into four different geographical ecoregions . The coastline is mostly a low, sandy shore backed by plains and scrub and intersected by several rivers and streams . The northern part of Ghana features high plains . South-west and south-central Ghana

252-522: A Militarized police Rapid deployment force and Marine Police Unit . The Ghana Police Service operates in 12 divisions: ten covering the regions of Ghana, one assigned specifically to the seaport and industrial hub of Tema , and the twelfth being the Railways, Ports and Harbours Division. The Ghana Police Service's Marine Police Unit and Division handles issues that arise from the country's offshore oil and gas industry . The Ghana Prisons Service and

378-497: A commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces ( President of Ghana ), parliament ( Parliament of Ghana ), cabinet ( Cabinet of Ghana ), council of state ( Ghanaian Council of State ), and an independent judiciary ( Judiciary of Ghana ). The government is elected by universal suffrage after every four years. Nana Akufo-Addo won the presidency in the general election in 2016 , defeating incumbent John Mahama . He also won

504-476: A constitutional amendment made Ghana a one-party state , with Nkrumah as president for life of both the nation and its party. Nkrumah was the first African head of state to promote the concept of Pan-Africanism , which he had been introduced to during his studies at Lincoln University , Pennsylvania in the United States, at the time when Marcus Garvey was known for his "Back to Africa Movement". He merged

630-661: A unitary presidential constitutional democracy with a parliamentary multi-party system that is dominated by two parties—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ghana alternated between civilian and military governments until January 1993, when the military government gave way to the Fourth Republic of Ghana after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution of Ghana divides powers among

756-548: A distinct subregion of the low plains, extends into the Gulf of Guinea in the extreme southeast. The delta's rock formation—consisting of thick layers of sandstone , some limestone , and silt deposits—is flat, featureless, and relatively young. As the delta grew outward over the centuries, sandbars developed across the mouths of the Volta and smaller rivers that empty into the gulf in the same area, forming numerous lagoons, some quite large, making road construction difficult. To avoid

882-444: A dramatic increase in grain production in northern Ghana. The virtual absence of tsetse flies in the region has led to increased livestock raising as a major occupation in the north. The region is Ghana's largest producer of cattle. Ghana is drained by a large number of streams and rivers. In addition, there are a number of coastal lagoons, the huge man-made Lake Volta , and Lake Bosumtwi , southeast of Kumasi , which has no outlet to

1008-560: A free secondary-school initiative started in 2017 among other programs, despite having recorded its lowest economic growth rate in 37 years in 2020. It produces and exports hydrocarbons such as sweet crude oil and natural gas . The 100%-state-owned filling station company, Ghana Oil Company , is the number 1 petroleum and gas filling station, and the 100%-state-owned state oil company Ghana National Petroleum Corporation oversees hydrocarbon exploration and production of petroleum and natural gas reserves. Ghana aims to further increase

1134-516: A maximum of about 270 kilometres (170 miles) with locations for mining of industrial minerals and timber. Ghana is home to five terrestrial ecoregions: Eastern Guinean forests , Guinean forest–savanna mosaic , West Sudanian savanna , Central African mangroves , and Guinean mangroves . It had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.53/10, ranking it 112th globally out of 172 countries. The White Volta River and its tributary Black Volta , flow south through Ghana to Lake Volta ,

1260-480: A millennium, exposing the soil to excessive drying and erosion, rendering the area less attractive to cultivators. In contrast with the rest of the region are the Afram Plains , located in the southeastern corner of the basin. Here the terrain is low, averaging 60 to 150 metres (200 to 490 ft) in elevation, and annual rainfall is between 1,140 millimetres (45 in) and about 1,400 millimetres (55 in). Near

1386-473: A stable, peaceful society. Dagbon extended beyond the boundaries of present-day Ghana. Kingdoms that emerged from Dagbon include the Mossi Kingdoms of Burkina Faso , and Bouna Kingdom of Ivory Coast . The kingdom enjoyed great prosperity, establishing Ghana's earliest educational systems, and using a writing script prior to European invasion. Female chiefs who rule over male subjects are present in

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1512-515: A structural adjustment plan, changing many old economic policies, and growth recovered during the mid-1980s. A new constitution restoring multi-party system politics was promulgated in the presidential election of 1992 , in which Rawlings was elected, and again in the general election of 1996 . In a tribal war in Northern Ghana in 1994, between the Konkomba and other ethnic groups, including

1638-410: A total of around 1,000 people accused of witchcraft. The Ghanaian government has announced that it intends to close the camps. Ghana possesses industrial minerals , hydrocarbons and precious metals . It is an emerging designated digital economy with mixed economy hybridisation and an emerging market . It has an economic plan target known as the "Ghana Vision 2020". This plan envisions Ghana as

1764-642: A trading lodge at a coastal settlement called Anomansah (the perpetual drink), which they renamed São Jorge da Mina . In 1481, King John II of Portugal commissioned Diogo de Azambuja to build the Elmina Castle , which was completed in three years. By 1598, the Dutch had joined the Portuguese in the gold trade, establishing the Dutch Gold Coast ( Nederlandse Bezittingen ter Kuste van Guinea – 'Dutch properties at

1890-653: Is Accra ; other significant cities include Kumasi , Tamale , and Sekondi-Takoradi . In 1957 Ghana became the first colony in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty, under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah . The earliest kingdoms to emerge in Ghana were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Bonoman in the south, with Bonoman existing in the area during the 11th century. The Ashanti Empire and other Akan kingdoms in

2016-407: Is Cape Three Points near Axim. Ghana lies between latitudes 4° and 12°N . South Ghana contains evergreen and semi-deciduous forests consisting of trees such as mahogany , odum , ebony and it also contains much of Ghana's oil palms and mangroves with shea trees , baobabs and acacias found in the northern part of Ghana. Its southernmost coast at Cape Three Points is 4° 30' north of

2142-442: Is savanna , the woodlands of which, depending on local soil and climatic conditions, may contain such trees as red ironwood and shea. The basin's population, principally farmers, is low in density, especially in the central and northwestern areas of the basin, where tsetse flies are common. Archeological finds indicate that the region was once more heavily populated. Periodic burning occurred over extensive areas for perhaps more than

2268-455: Is a comprehensive measure of African government, based on variables which reflect the success with which governments deliver essential political goods to its citizens. According to 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices Ghana is ranked 67th electoral democracy worldwide and 10th electoral democracy in Africa . Since independence, Ghana has been devoted to ideals of nonalignment and is a founding member of

2394-568: Is characterized in general by low physical relief . The Precambrian rock system that underlies most of the nation has been worn down by erosion almost to a plain. The highest elevation in Ghana, Mount Afadja in the Akwapim-Togo Ranges, rises 880 metres (2,890 ft) above sea level. There are four distinct geographical regions. Low plains stretch across the southern part of Ghana. To their north lie three regions—the Ashanti Uplands,

2520-912: Is classified as a middle income country. Services account for 50% of GDP, followed by manufacturing (24.1%), extractive industries (5%), and taxes (20.9%). Ghana has an increasing primary manufacturing economy and export of digital technology goods along with assembling and exporting automobiles and ships, diverse resource rich exportation of industrial minerals , agricultural products primarily cocoa, petroleum and natural gas, and industries such as information and communications technology primarily via Ghana's state digital technology corporation Rlg Communications which manufactures tablet computers with smartphones and various consumer electronics . Urban electric cars have been manufactured in Ghana since 2014. It announced plans to issue government debt by way of social and green bonds in Autumn 2021, making it

2646-599: Is followed by a wet period that reaches its peak in late August or September. To the south and southwest of the Kwahu Plateau, where the annual mean rainfall from north to south ranges from 1,250 to 2,150 millimetres (49 to 85 in), four separate seasons occur. Heavy rains fall from about April through late June. After a relatively short dry period in August, another rainy season begins in September and lasts through November, before

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2772-574: Is geographically closer to the intersection of the Prime Meridian and the Equator than any other country, since this point, (0°, 0°), is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 614 km (382 mi) off the south-east coast of Ghana. Grasslands mixed with south coastal shrublands and forests dominate Ghana, with forest extending northward from the coast 320 kilometres (200 miles) and eastward for

2898-583: Is located on the Gulf of Guinea , a few degrees north of the Equator . It spans an area of 238,540 km (92,101 sq mi) and has an Atlantic coastline that stretches 560 kilometres (350 miles) on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to its south. Dodi Island and Bobowasi Island are near the south coast. It lies between latitudes 4°45'N and 11°N, and longitudes 1°15'E and 3°15'W. The prime meridian passes through Ghana, specifically through Tema . Ghana

3024-562: Is made up of a forested plateau region consisting of the Ashanti uplands and the Kwahu Plateau . The hilly Akwapim-Togo ranges are found along Ghana's eastern international border . The Volta Basin takes up most of south-central Ghana and Ghana's highest point is Mount Afadja which is 885 m (2,904 ft) and is found in the Akwapim-Togo ranges . The climate is tropical and

3150-523: Is navigable from Akosombo through Yeji in the middle of Ghana. A 24-metre (79 ft) pontoon was commissioned in 1989 to link the Afram Plains to the west of the lake with the lower Volta region to the east. Hydroelectricity generated from Akosombo supplies Ghana, Togo, and Benin. On the other side of the Kwahu Plateau from Lake Volta are several river systems, including the Pra, Ankobra, Tano and Densu. The Pra

3276-467: Is particularly so during the night, when 95 to 100 percent humidity is possible. Humid conditions also prevail in the northern section of the country during the rainy season. During the harmattan season, however, humidity drops as low as 25 percent in the north. Dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March. Ghana is also prone to droughts , and was severely affected by floods in 2007 and 2009. Environmental issues include recurrent drought in

3402-423: Is the easternmost and the largest of the three principal rivers that drain the area south of the Volta divide. Rising south of the Kwahu Plateau and flowing southward, the Pra enters the Gulf of Guinea east of Takoradi. In the early part of the twentieth century, the Pra was used extensively to float timber to the coast for export. This trade is now carried by road and rail transportation. The Ankobra, which flows to

3528-559: Is the fifth largest on continental Africa and 3rd largest in sub-saharan Africa with a market capitalisation of GH¢ 57.2 billion or CN¥ 180.4 billion in 2012 with the South Africa JSE Limited as first. The Ghana Stock Exchange was the second best performing stock exchange in sub-saharan Africa in 2013. Ghana produces high-quality cocoa . It is the second largest producer of cocoa globally and its ICCO membership helps in its international cocoa trade. Ghana

3654-477: Is the fifth-largest in Africa and the 21st-to-25th- largest proven reserves in the world. It also has up to 1.7 × 10 cubic metres (6 × 10 ^  cu ft) of natural gas in reserves. The government has drawn up plans to nationalise petroleum and natural gas reserves to increase government revenue. As of 2019, Ghana was the 7th largest producer of gold in the world, producing ~140 tonnes that year. This record saw Ghana surpass South Africa in output for

3780-546: Is the usual agricultural practice because of the swampy nature of the very lowlying areas during the rainy seasons and the periodic blocking of the rivers at the coast by sandbars that form lagoons. A plan to irrigate the Accra Plains was announced in 1984. Should this plan come to reality, much of the area could be opened to large-scale cultivation. To the west of Accra, the low plains contain wider valleys and rounded low hills, with occasional rocky headlands. In general, however,

3906-568: Is used as a key narcotics industry transshipment point by traffickers, usually from South America as well as some from other African nations. In 2013, the UN chief of the Office on Drugs and Crime stated that "West Africa is completely weak in terms of border control and the big drug cartels from Colombia and Latin America have chosen Africa as a way to reach Europe." There is not a wide or popular knowledge about

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4032-550: The 2020 election after the presidential election results were challenged at the Supreme Court by flagbearer of the NDC, John Mahama. Presidents are limited to two four-year terms in office. The president can serve a second term only upon re-election. The 2012 Fragile States Index indicated that Ghana is ranked the 67th-least fragile state in the world and the fifth-least fragile state in Africa. Ghana ranked 112th out of 177 countries on

4158-662: The African Union , and a member of the Economic Community of West African States , the Group of 24 and the Commonwealth of Nations. The name Ghana comes from Wagadu , a vast empire in west Africa from the 3rd to 12th centuries; Wagadu was termed Ghana by Arab traders involved in the trans-Saharan trade . Ghana is thought to originate from the title Kaya Maghan of the rulers of Wagadu, which translates as ruler of gold . As

4284-487: The Akan are the largest ethnic group, they constitute a plurality. Most Ghanaians are Christians (71.3%); almost a fifth are Muslims ; a tenth practice traditional faiths or report no religion. Ghana is a unitary constitutional democracy led by a president who is head of state and head of government . For political stability in Africa, Ghana ranked seventh in the 2012 Ibrahim Index of African Governance and fifth in

4410-540: The Atewa Range , and which are important as sources of water for Accra and Winneba respectively. The country has one large natural lake, Lake Bosumtwi, located about 32 kilometres (20 mi) southeast of Kumasi. It occupies the steep-sided meteoric crater and has an area of about 47 square kilometres (18 sq mi). A number of small streams flow into Lake Bosumtwi, but there is no drainage from it. Apart from providing an opportunity for fishing for local inhabitants,

4536-533: The Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing a border with Ivory Coast in the west , Burkina Faso in the north , and Togo in the east . Ghana covers an area of 239,567 km (92,497 sq mi), spanning diverse ecologies , from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests . With nearly 35 million inhabitants, Ghana is the second-most populous country in West Africa . The capital and largest city

4662-615: The Atlantic slave trade in this area. More than 30 forts and castles were built by the merchants. The Germans established the Brandenburger Gold Coast or Groß Friedrichsburg. In 1874, Great Britain established control over some parts of the country, assigning these areas the status of the British Gold Coast . Military engagements occurred between British colonial powers and Akan nation-states. The Kingdom of Ashanti defeated

4788-521: The Gold Coast colony prepared for independence, the nation's leader and first prime minister later first president Kwame Nkrumah the one who led Ghana to independence, settled on Ghana , aiming to evoke a sense of unity and liberation among the Ghanaian people . The name was a powerful reminder of their shared heritage and the legacy of the ancient empire that once thrived in the wider region. It encapsulated

4914-479: The Kwahu Plateau in the south-central area. Half of Ghana lies less than 152 meters (499 ft) above sea level, and the highest point is 883 meters (2,897 ft). The 537 kilometers (334 mi) coastline is mostly a low, sandy shore backed by plains and scrub and intersected by several rivers and streams, most of which are navigable only by canoe . A tropical rain forest belt, broken by heavily forested hills and many streams and rivers, extends northward from

5040-511: The Nanumba , Dagomba and Gonja , between 1,000 and 2,000 people were killed and 150,000 people were displaced. After the 2000 general election , John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party became president of Ghana on 7 January 2001 and was re-elected in 2004 , thus also serving two terms (the term limit) as president of Ghana and marking the first time under the fourth republic that power

5166-660: 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 . Ghana has a strong relationship with the United States. Three recent U.S. presidents— Bill Clinton , George W. Bush , and Barack Obama —and a Vice President— Kamala Harris —have made diplomatic trips to Ghana. Many Ghanaian diplomats and politicians hold positions in international organisations, including Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of

Geography of Ghana - Misplaced Pages Continue

5292-628: The Northern Territories , and British Togoland . These were unified as an independent dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations . On 6 March 1957 Ghana became the first colony in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty - that is, gain independence. Under President Kwame Nkrumah , it became influential in decolonisation efforts and the Pan-African movement . Ghana is a multi-ethnic country with linguistic and religious groups; while

5418-518: The Takoradi Harbour . These ships were carrying thousands of kilograms of cocaine, with a street value running into billions of Ghana cedis . However, drug seizures saw a decline in 2011. Drug cartels are using new methods in narcotics production and narcotics exportation, to avoid Ghanaian security agencies. Underdeveloped institutions, porous open borders, and the existence of established smuggling organisations contribute to Ghana's position in

5544-457: The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, the south-west corner of Ghana is hot and humid , and the north of Ghana is warm and wet. Lake Volta , the world's largest artificial lake , extends through small portions of south-eastern Ghana and many tributary rivers such as the Oti and Afram rivers flow into it. The northernmost part of Ghana is Pulmakom and the southernmost part of Ghana

5670-1085: The 19th century, the territory of the southern part of Ghana was included in the Kingdom of Ashanti . The government of the Ashanti Empire operated first as a loose network and eventually as a centralised kingdom with a specialised bureaucracy centred in the capital city of Kumasi . Prior to Akan contact with Europeans, the Akan people created an economy based on principally gold and gold bar commodities , which were traded with other states in Africa. The Ga-Dangme and Ewe migrated westward from south-western Nigeria. The Ewe – formerly known as Dogbo- migrated from Oyo area with their Gbe-speaking kinsmen (Adja, Fon, Phla/Phera and Ogun/Gun) and in transition, settled at Ketou in Benin Republic, Tado in Togo, Dogbo Nyigbo in Benin Republic and with Nortsie (a walled town in present-day Togo) as their final dispersal point. Their dispersal from Nortsie

5796-461: The 2012 Fragile States Index . It has maintained since 1993 one of the freest and most stable governments on the continent, and it performs relatively well in healthcare , economic growth, and human development, so that it has a significant influence in West Africa and Africa as a whole. Ghana is highly integrated in international affairs, being a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and

5922-425: The Accra Plains, including the lower Volta region, rainfall averages only 750 to 1,000 millimetres (30 to 39 in) a year. Temperatures are usually high at all times of the year throughout the country. At higher elevations, temperatures are more comfortable. In the far north, temperature highs of 31 °C (88 °F) are common. The southern part of the country is characterized by generally humid conditions. This

6048-563: The Afram River, much of the surrounding countryside is flooded or swampy during the rainy seasons. With the creation of Lake Volta (8,500 square kilometres (3,300 sq mi) in area) in the mid-1960s, much of the Afram Plains was submerged. Despite the construction of roads to connect communities displaced by the lake, road transportation in the region remains poor. Renewed efforts to improve communications, to enhance agricultural production, and to improve standards of living began in earnest in

6174-545: The Afram and Pru Rivers flow into the Volta River, while from the opposite side, the Pra, Birim, Ofin, Tano, and other rivers flow south toward the sea. The plateau also marks the northernmost limit of the forest zone. Although large areas of the forest cover have been destroyed through farming, enough deciduous forest remains to shade the head waters of the rivers that flow from the plateau. The Southern Ashanti Uplands, extending from

6300-599: The Akans were established in the Akan state called Bonoman , for which the Brong-Ahafo region was named. From the 17th century, Akans emerged from what is believed to have been the Bonoman area, to create Akan states, mainly based on gold trading. These states included Bonoman (Brong-Ahafo region), Ashanti ( Ashanti Region ), Denkyira ( Western North region ), Mankessim Kingdom ( Central region ), and Akwamu (Eastern region) . By

6426-516: The Akwapim-Togo Ranges, and the Volta Basin. The fourth region, the high plains, occupies the northern and northwestern sector of Ghana. Like most West African countries, Ghana has no natural harbours. Because strong surf pounds the shoreline, two artificial harbours were built at Takoradi and Tema (the latter completed in 1961) to accommodate Ghana's shipping needs. The low plains comprise

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6552-557: The British some times in the 100-year-long Anglo-Ashanti wars and eventually lost with the War of the Golden Stool in 1900. In 1947, the newly formed United Gold Coast Convention led by "The Big Six" called for "self-government within the shortest possible time" following the 1946 Gold Coast legislative election . Kwame Nkrumah , a Ghanaian nationalist who led Ghana from 1957 to 1966 as

6678-618: The Central Region, Mole National Park in the Northern Region, Digya National Park along the western bank of the Volta Lake . This is a list of the extreme points of Ghana , the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Ghana Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana , is a country in West Africa . It lies adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea and

6804-498: The GAF are conceptualised in the constitution, Ghana's Law on Armed Force Military Strategy, and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre agreements to which GAF is attestator. GAF military operations are executed under the auspices and imperium of the Ministry of Defence . Although Ghana is relatively peaceful and is often considered being one of the least violent countries in

6930-583: 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. Today, Ghana is a regional power and regional hegemon . In his book Shake Hands with the Devil , Canadian Forces commander Roméo Dallaire highly rated the GAF soldiers and military personnel. The military operations and military doctrine of

7056-783: The Guinea coast') and building forts at Fort Komenda and Kormantsi. In 1617, the Dutch captured the Elmina Castle from the Portuguese and Axim in 1642 ( Fort St Anthony ). European traders had joined in gold trading by the 17th century, including the Swedes , establishing the Swedish Gold Coast ( Svenska Guldkusten ), and Denmark–Norway , establishing the Danish Gold Coast ( Danske Guldkyst or Dansk Guinea ). European traders participated in

7182-610: The Konkori Scarp to the west and the Gambaga Scarp to the north reach from 300 to 460 metres (980 to 1,510 ft). To the south and the southwest, the basin is less than 300 metres (980 ft). The Kwahu Plateau marks the southern end of the basin, and forms a natural part of the Ashanti Uplands. The basin is characterized by poor soil, generally of Voltaian sandstone . Annual rainfall averages between 1,000 and 1,140 millimetres (39 and 45 in). The most widespread vegetation type

7308-590: The President Nana Akufo-Addo , Ghana was "the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve the goal of halving poverty, as contained in Goal 1 of the Millennium Development Goals ". In 1957, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) consisted of its headquarters, support services, three battalions of infantry and a reconnaissance squadron with armoured vehicles. President Nkrumah aimed at rapidly expanding

7434-416: The Sahara, and the opposing tropical maritime or moist equatorial system. The cycle of the seasons follows the apparent movement of the sun back and forth across the equator. During summer in the northern hemisphere, a warm and moist maritime air mass intensifies and pushes northward across the country. A low-pressure belt, or intertropical front, in the airmass brings warm air, rain, and prevailing winds from

7560-422: The United Nations Kofi Annan , International Criminal Court Judge Akua Kuenyehia , as well as former President Jerry John Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kufuor , who both served as diplomats of the United Nations. In September 2010, 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

7686-417: The Volta and its tributaries, such as the Afram River and the Oti River, drain more than two thirds of Ghana. To the south of the divide are several smaller, independent rivers. The most important of these are the Pra River, the Tano River, the Ankobra River, the Birim River , and the Densu River . With the exception of smaller streams that dry up in the dry seasons or rivers that empty into inland lakes, all

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7812-421: The Volta in the eastern part of Ghana, and the Pru River, the Sene River, and the Afram River, major tributaries to the north of the Kawhu Plateau, also empty into flooded extensions of the lake in their river valleys. Lake Volta is a rich source of fish, and its potential as a source for irrigation is reflected in an agricultural mechanization agreement signed in the late 1980s to irrigate the Afram Plains. The lake

7938-437: The agricultural sector. The Volta River Authority and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation , both state-owned, are the two major electricity producers. The Akosombo Dam , built on the Volta River in 1965, along with the Bui Dam , the Kpong Dam and several other hydroelectric dams, provide hydropower . In addition, the government sought to build the second nuclear power plant in Africa . The Ghana Stock Exchange

8064-415: The aspirations of the Ghanaian people for self-governance, progress, and a future marked by dignity and resilience. The earliest recorded kingdoms to emerge in modern Ghana were the Mole-Dagbon states. Before the unification of Dagbon, societies were decentralised, and headed by the Tindaamba (singular: tindana). These decentralised states were unified by King Gbewaa , who lived a long life, and formed

8190-406: The budget. According to reports, the SDGs were implemented through a decentralized planning approach. This allows for stakeholders' participation, such as in UN agencies, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, academia, and others. The 17 SDGs are a global call to action to end poverty among others, and the UN and its partners in the country are working towards achieving them. According to

8316-495: The colours red, gold, green, and a black star, dates back to this unification. On 1 July 1960, following the Ghanaian constitutional referendum and Ghanaian presidential election , Nkrumah declared Ghana a republic and assumed the presidency. 6 March is the nation's Independence Day , and 1 July is celebrated as Republic Day . Nkrumah led an authoritarian regime in Ghana, as he repressed political opposition and conducted elections that were not free and fair. In 1964,

8442-404: The country's first prime minister and president , formed the Convention People's Party in 1949 with the motto "self-government now". The party initiated a "positive action" campaign involving non-violent protests, strikes and non-cooperation with the British authorities. Nkrumah was arrested and sentenced to one year imprisonment during this time. In the Gold Coast's 1951 general election , he

8568-468: The country's gold-mining centres, are also located here. The region is Ghana's chief producer of cocoa, and its tropical forests continue to be a vital source of timber for the lumber industry. Taking the central part of Ghana, the Volta Basin covers about 45 percent of the nation's total land surface. Its northern section, which lies above the upper part of Lake Volta , rises to a height of 150 to 215 metres (492 to 705 ft) above sea level. Elevations of

8694-448: The country. The largest part of the low plains is the Akan Lowlands. Some experts prefer to classify this region as a subdivision of the Ashanti Uplands because of the many characteristics they share. Unlike the uplands, the height of the Akan Lowlands is generally between sea level and 150 metres (490 ft). Some ranges and hills rise to about 300 metres (980 ft), but few exceed 600 metres (2,000 ft). The lowlands that lie to

8820-500: The day was instituted as a public holiday in Ghana ( Founders' Day ). The government of Nkrumah was subsequently overthrown in a coup by the Ghana Armed Forces , codenamed "Operation Cold Chop". This occurred while Nkrumah was abroad with Zhou Enlai in the People's Republic of China, on a mission to Hanoi , Vietnam, to help end the Vietnam War . The coup took place on 24 February 1966, led by Colonel Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka and Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa. The National Liberation Council

8946-405: The difference between maximum and minimum elevations within a given area, usually of limited extent. A relief can be described qualitatively, such as a " low relief " or " high relief " plain or upland . The relief of a landscape can change with the size of the area over which it is measured, making the definition of the scale over which it is measured very important. Because it is related to

9072-430: The east and Wenchi in the northwest. The average elevation of the plateau is about 450 metres (1,480 ft), rising to a maximum of 762 metres (2,500 ft). The relatively cool temperatures of the plateau were attractive to Europeans, particularly missionaries, who founded many well-known schools and colleges in this region. The plateau forms one of the important physical divides in Ghana. From its northeastern slopes,

9198-406: The equator. From here, the country extends inland for some 670 kilometres (420 mi) to about 11° north . The distance across the widest part, between longitude 1° 12' east and longitude 3° 15' west, measures about 560 kilometres (350 mi). The Greenwich Meridian , which passes through London, also traverses the eastern part of Ghana at Tema . The terrain consists of desert mountains with

9324-511: The first African country to become a developed country between 2020 and 2029 and a newly industrialised country between 2030 and 2039. This excludes fellow Group of 24 member and Sub-Saharan African country South Africa, which is a newly industrialised country. Ghana's economy has ties to the Chinese yuan renminbi along with Ghana's vast gold reserves. In 2013, the Bank of Ghana began circulating

9450-406: The first African country to do so. The country, which was planning to borrow up to $ 5 billion in international markets, would use the proceeds from these sustainable bonds to refinance debt used for social and environmental projects and pay for educational or health. Only a few other nations have sold them so far, including Chile and Ecuador . The country will use the proceeds to forge ahead with

9576-501: The first time, making Ghana the largest gold producer in Africa. In addition to gold, Ghana exports silver , timber, diamonds , bauxite , and manganese , and has other mineral deposits. Ghana ranks 9th in the world in diamond export and reserve size. The government has drawn up plans to nationalize mining industry to increase government revenue. "Shortages" of electricity in 2015 and 2016 led to dumsor ("persistent, irregular and unpredictable" electric power outages), increasing

9702-469: The foot of the Kwahu Plateau in the north to the lowlands in the south, slope gently from an elevation of about 300 metres (980 ft) in the north to about 150 metres (490 ft) in the south. The region contains several hills and ranges as well as several towns of historical and economic importance, including Kumasi , Ghana's second largest city and former capital of the Asante. Obuasi and Konongo , two of

9828-485: The formation of terrain or topography. Terrain is formed by concurrent processes operating on the underlying geological structures over geological time : Tectonic processes such as orogenies and uplifts cause land to be elevated, whereas erosional and weathering processes wear the land away by smoothing and reducing topographic features. The relationship of erosion and tectonics rarely (if ever) reaches equilibrium. These processes are also codependent, however

9954-604: The four subregions of the coastal savanna, the Volta Delta , the Accra Plains , and the Akan lowlands or peneplains. A narrow strip of grassy and scrubby coast runs from a point near Takoradi in the west to the Togo border in the east. This coastal savanna, only about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) in width at its western end, stretches eastward through the Accra Plains, where it widens to more than 80 kilometres (50 mi), and terminates at

10080-419: The full range of their interactions is still a topic of debate. Land surface parameters are quantitative measures of various morphometric properties of a surface. The most common examples are used to derive slope or aspect of a terrain or curvatures at each location. These measures can also be used to derive hydrological parameters that reflect flow/erosion processes. Climatic parameters are based on

10206-490: The high plains are more arable than those in the Volta Basin, and the population density is considerably higher. Grain and cattle production are the major economic activities in the high plains of the northern region. Since the mid-1980s, when former United States President Jimmy Carter's Global 2000 program adopted Ghana as one of a select number of African countries whose local farmers were to be educated and financially supported to improve agricultural production, there has been

10332-656: The hills here have craggy summits, which give a striking appearance to the landscape. The upper section of the Pra River Basin, to the west of the Densu, is relatively flat. The topography of its lower reaches resembles that of the Densu Basin and is a rich cocoa and food-producing region. The valley of the Birim River, one of the main tributaries of the Pra, is Ghana's most important diamond-producing area. The Ankobra River Basin and

10458-423: The index. Ghana ranked as the 64th-least corrupt and politically corrupt country in the world out of all 174 countries ranked and ranked as the fifth-least corrupt and politically corrupt country in Africa out of 53 countries in the 2012 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index . Ghana was ranked seventh in Africa out of 53 countries in the 2012 Ibrahim Index of African Governance . The Ibrahim Index

10584-428: The interest in renewables. As of 2019, there is a surplus of electricity. The judicial system of Ghana deals with corruption, economic malpractice and lack of economic transparency. According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index of 2018, out of 180 countries, Ghana was ranked 78th, with a score of 41 on a scale where a 0–9 score means highly corrupt, and a 90–100 score means very clean. This

10710-465: The intersection of three hydro-climatic zones. Changes in rainfall, weather conditions and sea-level rise affect the salinity of coastal waters. This is expected to negatively affect both farming and fisheries. In 2015, the government produced a document titled "Ghana's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution". Following that, Ghana signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016. Ghana is

10836-604: The kingdom, and inheritance is both patrilineal and matrilineal. The Yaa Naa is the King of Dagbon and the Gundo Naa is the Queen. The kingdom remained uncolonised. In 1896, Germany invaded Eastern Dagbon (Naya) and burnt down its capital, Yendi, during the Battle of Adibo . The Akan -speaking peoples began to move into what later became Ghana toward the 15th century. By the 16th century,

10962-514: The lake extended into the lower-lying areas, forcing the relocation of 78,000 people to newly created townships on the lake's higher banks. The Black Volta River and the White Volta River flow separately into the lake. Before their confluence was submerged, the rivers came together in the middle of Ghana to form the main Volta River. The Oti River and the Daka River, the principal tributaries of

11088-399: The lake serves as a tourist attraction. The country's warm, humid climate has an annual mean temperature between 26 and 29 °C (79 and 84 °F). Variations in the principal elements of temperature, rainfall, and humidity that govern the climate are influenced by the movement and interaction of the dry tropical continental air mass, or the harmattan, which blows from the northeast across

11214-427: The land is flat and covered with grass and scrub. Dense groves of coconut palms front the coastline. Several commercial centres, including Winneba, Saltpond, and Cape Coast are located here. Winneba has a small livestock industry and palm tree cultivation is expanding in the area away from the coast, with the predominant occupation of the coastal inhabitants being fishing via dug-out canoe. The Volta Delta, which forms

11340-459: The largest artificial lake in the world, extends from the Akosombo Dam in southeastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 520 kilometers (323 mi) to the north. The lake generates electricity , provides inland transportation , and is a potentially valuable resource for irrigation and fish farming . Ghana has a large and well-preserved national park system that includes Kakum National Park in

11466-517: The longer harmattan season sets in to complete the cycle. The extent of drought and rainfall varies across the country. To the south of the Kwahu Plateau, the heaviest rains occur in the Axim area in the southwest corner of Ghana. Farther to the north, Kumasi receives an average annual rainfall of about 1,400 millimetres (55 in), while Tamale in the drier northern savanna receives rainfall of 1,000 millimetres (39 in) per year. From Takoradi eastward to

11592-405: The lowest-lying areas the road between Accra and Keta makes a detour inland just before reaching Ada, and approaches Keta from the east along the narrow spit on which the town stands. Road links with Keta continue to be a problem. By 1989 it was estimated that more than 3,000 houses in the town had been swallowed by flooding from the lagoon. About 1,500 other houses were destroyed by erosion caused by

11718-433: The major rivers in Ghana flow into the Gulf of Guinea directly or as tributaries to other major rivers. The Ankobra and Tano are navigable for considerable distances in their lower reaches. Navigation on the Volta River has changed significantly since 1964. Construction of the dam at Akosombo, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) upstream from the coast, created the vast Lake Volta and the associated hydroelectric project. Arms of

11844-421: The mid-1980s. The general terrain in the northern and northwestern part of Ghana outside the Volta Basin consists of a dissected plateau, which averages between 150 and 300 metres (490 and 980 ft) in elevation and, in some places, is even higher. Rainfall averages between 1,000 and 1,150 millimetres (39 and 45 in) annually, although in the northwest it is closer to 1,350 millimetres (53 in). Soils in

11970-647: The mid-1980s. The lower basins of the Pra, Birim, Densu, and Ankobra rivers are also sites for palm tree cultivation. Comprising the Southern Ashanti Uplands and the Kwahu Plateau, the Ashanti Uplands lie just north of the Akan Lowlands and stretch from the Ivory Coast border in the west to the elevated edge of the Volta Basin in the east. Stretching in a northwest-to-southeast direction, the Kwahu Plateau extends 193 kilometres (120 mi) between Koforidua in

12096-618: The middle and lower basins of the Tano River to the west of the lowlands form the largest subdivision of the Akan Lowlands. Here annual rainfall between 1,500 and 2,150 millimetres (59 and 85 in) helps assure a dense forest cover. In addition to timber, the area is rich in minerals. The Tarkwa goldfield, the diamond operations of the Bonsa Valley , and high-grade manganese deposits are all found in this area. The middle and lower Tano basins have been intensely explored for oil and natural gas since

12222-506: The modelling of solar radiation or air flow. Land surface objects, or landforms , are definite physical objects (lines, points, areas) that differ from the surrounding objects. The most typical examples airlines of watersheds , stream patterns, ridges , break-lines , pools or borders of specific landforms. A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of

12348-480: The narcotics industry and intercepted narcotics within Ghana, since it is an underground economy . 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 makes Ghana an attractive country for the narcotics business. The Narcotics Control Board has impounded container ships at the Sekondi Naval Base in

12474-657: The narcotics industry. President Mills initiated ongoing efforts to reduce the role of airports in Ghana's drug trade. Homosexual acts are prohibited by law in Ghana. According to a 2013 survey by the Pew Research Center , 96% of Ghanaians believe that homosexuality should not be accepted by society. Sometimes elderly women in Ghana are accused of witchcraft , particularly in rural Ghana. Issues of witchcraft mainly remain as speculations based on superstitions within families. In some parts of northern Ghana, there exist what are called witch camps . These are said to house

12600-587: The neighbouring Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria (around Badagry area). Akan trade with European states began after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century. European contact was by the Portuguese people , who came to the Gold Coast region in the 15th century to trade. The Portuguese then established the Portuguese Gold Coast (Costa do Ouro), focused on the availability of gold. The Portuguese built

12726-638: The north, severely affecting agricultural activities, deforestation , overgrazing, soil erosion , poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations, water pollution, and inadequate supplies of potable water International agreements (ratified): Biodiversity , Climate Change , Desertification , Endangered Species , Environmental Modification , Law of the Sea , Ozone Layer Protection , Ship Pollution , Tropical Timber 83 , Tropical Timber 94 , Wetlands . International agreements (signed, but not ratified) Marine Life Conservation . Volta Lake ,

12852-428: The output of oil to 2.2 million barrels (350,000 m ) per day and gas to 34,000,000 cubic metres (1.2 × 10 ^  cu ft) per day. The Jubilee Oil Field , which contains up to 3 billion barrels (480,000,000 m ) of sweet crude oil, was discovered in 2007. Ghana is believed to have up to 5 billion barrels (790,000,000 m ) to 7 billion barrels (1.1 × 10  m ) of petroleum in reserves, which

12978-455: The powerful waves of the sea. This flat, silt-composed delta region with its abundance of water supports shallot , corn , and cassava cultivation in the region. The sandy soil of the delta gave rise to the copra industry. Salt -making, from the plentiful supply in the dried beds of the lagoons, provides additional employment. The main occupation of the delta people is fishing, an industry that supplies dried and salted fish to other parts of

13104-537: The region, Ghana has experienced political violence in the past and 2017 has thus far seen an upward trend in incidents motivated by political grievances. The Ghana Police Service and the Criminal Investigation Department are the main law enforcement agencies, responsible for the detection of crime, maintenance of law and order and the maintenance of internal peace and security. The Ghana Police Service has eleven specialised police units, including

13230-442: The renminbi throughout Ghanaian state-owned banks and to the Ghana public as hard currency along with the national Ghanaian cedi for second national trade currency. Between 2012 and 2013, 38% of rural dwellers were experiencing poverty whereas only 11% of urban dwellers were. Urban areas hold greater opportunity for employment, particularly in informal trade, while nearly all (94 percent) of "rural poor households" participate in

13356-405: The sea. In the wetter south and southwest areas of Ghana, the river and stream pattern is denser, but in the area north of the Kwahu Plateau , the pattern is much more open, making access to water more difficult. Several streams and rivers also dry up or experience reduced flow during the dry seasons of the year, while flooding during the rainy seasons is common. The major drainage divide runs from

13482-535: The shore, near the Ivory Coast frontier. This area, known as the "Ashanti," produces most of Ghana's cocoa , minerals , and timber . North of this belt, the elevation varies from 91 to 396 meters (299 to 1,299 ft) above sea level and is covered by low bushes, park-like savanna , and grassy plains. Irrigated land: 309 square kilometers (119 sq mi) (2003) Total renewable water resources: 53.2 cubic kilometers (13 cu mi) (2011) Ghana

13608-454: The slope of surfaces within the area of interest and to the gradient of any streams present, the relief of a landscape is a useful metric in the study of the Earth's surface. Relief energy, which may be defined inter alia as "the maximum height range in a regular grid", is essentially an indication of the ruggedness or relative height of the terrain. Geomorphology is in large part the study of

13734-548: The south emerged over the centuries. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese Empire , followed by other European powers , contested the area for trading rights, until the British ultimately established control of the coast by the 19th century . Following more than a century of colonial resistance, the current borders of the country took shape, encompassing four separate British colonial territories: Gold Coast , Ashanti ,

13860-633: The south of the Ashanti Uplands receive the many rivers that make their way to the sea. The Akan Lowlands contain the basins of the Densu River , the Pra River , the Ankobra River , and the Tano River , all of which play important roles in the economy of Ghana. The Densu River Basin, location of the important urban centres of Koforidua and Nsawam in the eastern lowlands, has an undulating topography. Many of

13986-408: The southeastern corner of the country at the lower end of the Akwapim-Togo Ranges. Almost flat and featureless, the Accra Plains descend gradually to the gulf from a height of about 150 metres (490 ft). The topography east of the city of Accra is marked by a succession of ridges and spoonshaped valleys. The hills and slopes in this area are the favoured lands for cultivation. Shifting cultivation

14112-448: The southwest part of the Akwapim-Togo Ranges northwest through the Kwahu Plateau and then irregularly westward to the Ivory Coast border. Almost all the rivers and streams north of this divide form part of the Volta system. Extending about 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) in length and draining an area of about 388,000 square kilometres (150,000 sq mi), of which about 158,000 square kilometres (61,000 sq mi) lie within Ghana,

14238-458: The southwest. As the sun returns south across the equator, the dry, dusty, tropical continental front, or harmattan, prevails. Climatic conditions across the country are hardly uniform. The Kwahu Plateau, which marks the northernmost extent of the forest area, also serves as an important climatic divide. To its north, two distinct seasons occur. The harmattan season, with its dry, hot days and relatively cool nights from November to late March or April,

14364-561: The sub-division Borstal Institute for Juveniles administers incarceration. Ghana retains and exercises the death penalty for treason, corruption, robbery, piracy, drug trafficking, rape, and homicide. The new sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations call for the international community to come together to promote the rule of law; support equal access to justice for all; reduce corruption; and develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. Ghana

14490-575: The sustainability of Chinese-financed projects, environmental impacts, and the lack of transparency in their investments call for a careful assessment of these collaborations. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Mahama in 2013 to hold discussions on strengthening the Non-Aligned Movement and also co–chair a bilateral meeting between Ghana and Iran at the Ghanaian presidential palace Flagstaff House . The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were integrated into Ghana's development agenda and

14616-615: The teachings of Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr. and the naturalised Ghanaian scholar W. E. B. Du Bois into the formation of 1960s Ghana. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as he became known, played an instrumental part in the founding of the Non-Aligned Movement , and in establishing the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute to teach his ideologies of communism and socialism . His life achievements were recognised by Ghanaians during his centenary birthday celebration, and

14742-463: The three rivers, rises near Techiman in the centre of the country. It also flows in a southerly direction, and it empties into a lagoon in the southeast corner of Ivory Coast. Navigation by steam launch is possible on the southern sector of the Tano for about 70 kilometres (43 mi). A number of rivers are found to the east of the Pra. The two most important are the Densu and Ayensu, both of which rise in

14868-820: The two nations, at the Great Hall of the People . 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 Mahama . China recently became one of the top investing countries of Ghana, which predominantly focus on infrastructure, natural resources, and manufacturing sectors, have promoted economic growth, job creation, and technology transfer in Ghana. However, concerns regarding

14994-458: The west of the Pra, has a relatively small drainage basin. It rises in the hilly region of Bibiani and flows in a southerly direction to enter the gulf just west of Axim . Small craft can navigate approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) inland from its mouth. At one time, the Ankobra helped transport machinery to the gold-mining areas in the vicinity of Tarkwa . The Tano, which is the westernmost of

15120-405: The world's third-largest reservoir by volume and largest by surface area, formed by the hydroelectric Akosombo Dam , completed in 1965. The Volta flows out of Lake Volta into the Gulf of Guinea . The northernmost part of Ghana is Pulmakong and the southernmost part of Ghana is Cape Three Points . The climate of Ghana is tropical , and there is wet season and dry season . Ghana sits at

15246-505: Was based on perceived levels of public sector corruption. The trans-African automobile route – the Dakar-Lagos Highway passes through Ghana. There are several airports in Ghana . Terrain The understanding of terrain is critical for many reasons: Relief (or local relief ) refers specifically to the quantitative measurement of vertical elevation change in a landscape . It is

15372-405: Was described as a "stable democracy". As a result of the 2016 general election , Nana Akufo-Addo became president on 7 January 2017. He was re-elected after a tightly contested election in 2020 . To combat deforestation, on 11 June 2021 Ghana inaugurated Green Ghana Day, with the aim of planting five million trees in a concentrated effort to preserve the country's rainforest cover. Ghana

15498-678: Was elected to Parliament and was released from prison. He became prime minister in 1952 and began a policy of Africanization. At midnight of March 6, 1957, the Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland were unified as one single independent dominion within the British Commonwealth under the name Ghana. This was done under the Ghana Independence Act 1957 . The current flag of Ghana , consisting of

15624-563: Was formed, chaired by Lieutenant General Joseph A. Ankrah . A series of alternating military and civilian governments, often affected by economic instabilities, ruled Ghana from 1966, ending with the ascent to power of Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings of the Provisional National Defence Council in 1981. These changes resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties . The economy soon declined, so Rawlings negotiated

15750-623: Was necessitated by the high-handed rule of King Agorkorli (Agɔ Akɔli) who was the reigning monarch of the tribe at that time. The Ewe in Ghana speak three principal dialects: Anlo(along the coast),Tongu(along the Volta river) and Ewedome (in the hill country side).The Ga-Dangme occupy the Greater Accra Region and parts of the Eastern Region, while the Ewe are found in the Volta Region as well as

15876-518: Was transferred from one legitimately elected head of state and head of government to another. Nana Akufo-Addo , the ruling party candidate, was defeated in a very close 2008 general election by John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress . Mills died of natural causes and was succeeded by Vice President John Mahama on 24 July 2012. Following the 2012 general election , Mahama became president in his own right, and Ghana

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