GENERAL INFORMATION
National name Republic of Ghana Area 238,540 sq km/92,100 sq mi Capital Accra Major towns/cities Kumasi, Tamale, Tema, Sekondi-Takoradi, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Ho, Bolgatanga, Obuasi Major ports Sekondi, Tema Physical features mostly tropical lowland plains bisected by River Volta
GOVERNMENT
Head of state and government John Kuffuor from 2001 Political system emergent democracy Political executive limited presidency Administrative divisions� ten regions Political parties National Democratic Congress (NDC), centrist, progovernment New Patriotic Party (NPP), left of centre Armed forces 7,000 plus a paramilitary force of 1,000 (1998) Conscription military service is voluntary Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Defence spend (GDP) 1.4 (1998) Education spends ( GNP) 3.1 (199394) Health spend ( GDP) 3.1 (1997)
ECONOMY AND RESOURCES
Currency cedi GDP (US) 7.6 billion (1999) Real GDP growth ( change on previous year) 4.2 (1999) GNP (US) 7.4 billion (1999) GNP per capita (PPP) (US) 1,793 (1999 est) Consumer price inflation 12.4 (1999) Unemployment 20 (1997 est) Foreign debt (US) 7.2 billion (1999) Major trading partners Togo, Nigeria, UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Italy Resources diamonds, gold, manganese, bauxite Industries food processing, textiles, vehicles, aluminum, cement, paper, chemicals, petroleum products, tourism Exports gold, cocoa and related products, timber. Principal market Togo 12 (1998) Imports raw materials, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum, food, basic manufactures. Principal source Nigeria 14 (1998) Arable land 12.3 (1996) Agricultural products cocoa (world's third-largest producer), coffee, bananas, oil palm, maize, rice, cassava, plantain, yams, coconuts, kola nuts, limes, shea nuts forestry (timber production) << Next >> |
