TRANSPORT
Airports international airport Accra (Kotoka) four domestic airports total passenger km 611 million (1995) Railways total length 953 km/592 mi total passenger km 277 million (1991) Roads total road network 37,800 km/23,489 mi, of which 25 paved (1996 est) passenger cars 4.7 per 1,000 people (1996 est)
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Visa requirements UK visa required. USA visa required Embassy in the UK (education and visas) 104 Highgate Hill, London N6 5HE. Tel (020) 8342 8686 fax (020) 8342 8566 (tourist information) 102 Park Street, London W1Y 3RJ. Tel (020) 7493 4901 fax (020) 7629 1730 British embassy British High Commission, PO Box 296, Osu Link, off Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue, Accra. Tel (21) 221 665 fax (21) 664 652 Chamber of commerce Ghana National Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 2325, Accra. Tel (21) 662 427 fax (21) 662 210 Office hours 08001200 and 14001700 Mon -Fri Banking hours 08301400 Mon -Thu and 08301500 Fri. A few city branches are open 08301200 Sat Time difference GMT /0 Chief tourist attractions game reserves beaches traditional festivals old castles and trading posts Major holidays 1 January, 6 March, 1 May, 4 June, 1 July, 2526, 31 December variable Good Friday, Easter Monday, Holy Saturday
CHRONOLOGY
5th-12th century Ghana Empire (from which present-day country's name derives) flourished, with its centre 500 mi/800 km to the northwest, in Mali. 13th century In coastal and forest areas Akan peoples founded the first states. 15th century Gold-seeking Mande traders entered northern Ghana from the northeast, founding Dagomba and Mamprussi states Portuguese navigators visited coastal region, naming it the Gold Coast, building a fort at Elmina, and slave trading began. 17th century Gonja kingdom founded in north by Mande speakers Ga and Ewe states founded in southeast by immigrants from Nigeria in central Ghana, controlling gold reserves around Kumasi, the Ashanti, a branch of the Akans, founded what became the most powerful state in pre-colonial Ghana. 16th-18th British trading settlement established on Gold Coast. 18th-19th centuries Centralized Ashanti kingdom at its height, dominating between Komoe River in the west and Togo Mountains in the east and active in slave trade Fante state powerful along coast in the south. 1874 Britain, after ousting the Danes and Dutch and defeating the Ashanti, made the Gold Coast (the southern provinces) a crown colony.1898-1901 After three further military campaigns, Britain finally subdued and established protectorates over Ashanti and the northern territories.Early 20th century The colony developed into a major cocoa-exporting region.1917 West Togoland, formerly German-ruled, was administered with the Gold Coast as British Togoland. 1949 Campaign for independence launched by Kwame Nkrumah, who formed the Convention People's Party (CPP) and became prime minister in 1952.1957 Independence achieved, within the Commonwealth, as Ghana, which included British Togoland Nkrumah became prime minister. Policy of African socialism and nonalignment pursued.1960 Became a republic, with Nkrumah as president. 1964 Ghana became a one-party state, dominated by the CCP, and developed links with communist bloc. 1972 A coup placed Col Ignatius Acheampong at the head of a military government as the economy deteriorated. 1978 Acheampong was deposed in a bloodless coup. Flight-Lt Jerry Rawlings, a populist soldier who launched a drive against corruption, came to power. 1979 There was a return to civilian rule. 1981 Rawlings seized power again. All political parties were banned.1992 A pluralist constitution was approved in a referendum, lifting the ban on political parties. Rawlings won presidential elections. 1993 The fourth republic of Ghana was formally inaugurated. 1994 Ethnic clashes in the north left more than 6,000 people dead. 1996 The New Democratic Congress (NDC) won an assembly majority. Rawlings was re-elected as president.2001 John Kufuor, leader of the liberal New Patriotic Party, was elected president. << Back >> |
