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Ghana |
Capital: Accra
Languages: Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census).
Currency: Cedi (GHC)
Background: 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. Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 40% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders.
PEOPLE
Population: 22,931,299 (July 2007 est); 24,339,838 (July 2010)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 59 years
Male: 58 years
Female: 60 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 60.55 years
Male: 59.36 years
Female: 61.78 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 4,438,308/female 4,329,293)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 6,661,512/female 6,687,738)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 380,495/female 433,953) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 37.2% (male 4,494,633/female 4,394,074)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 7,065,273/female 7,086,023)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 389,886/female 457,923) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.972% (2007 est.); 1.855% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: N/A
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 2.3% (2006 est); 1.9% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 300,000 (2006 est); 260,000 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 74.8.1 %
Male: 82.7 %
Female: 49.8% (67.1 % (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 38,684 (Liberia), 14,136 (Togo) (2006)
Refugees (country of origin): 35,653 (Liberia); 8,517 (Togo) (2007)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural Products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building
Exports - Commodities: gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds
Exports - Partners:
Netherlands 11.3%, UK 8.7%, US 6.7%, Spain 5.7%, Belgium 5.2%, France 4.4% (2006)
Netherlands 13.45%, UK 7.87%, France 5.85%, Ukraine 5.84%, Malaysia 3.97% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - Partners:
Nigeria 16.7%, China 13%, UK 5.7%, Belgium 4.7%, US 4.7%, South Africa 4.1%, France 4.1% (2006)
China 16.8%, Nigeria 11.88%, US 6.63%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.99%, India 5.57%, France 5.09%, UK 4.23% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Source: CIA World Factbook
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