Ghana
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : Republic of Ghana
Country name - conventional short form : Ghana
Country name - former : Gold Coast
Government type : constitutional democracy
Capital - name : Accra
Capital - time difference : UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Nationality - noun : Ghanaian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Ghanaian
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 (code) : Ghana cedi (GHC)
Currency code : GHC
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk : very high
Major infectious diseases - note : highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Ghana is located Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. The climate is tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north. The terrain is mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. Kufuor is constitutionally barred from running for a third term in upcoming Presidential elections, which are scheduled for December 2008.
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