Basic Statistics

Here are some basic facts about Ghana.

Ghana Population

- Approximately 23 million people, with nearly 25% of the population estimated to be in the in the five largest urban areas.

- Language: English is the official language. There are many different indigenous languages, Twi (pronounced Ch-wee) being the most common. See our language videos for more information.
 

Geography of Ghana

- Size: 92,000 square miles. About the size of the United Kingdom, or the US state of Oregon.

- Tropical rainforest covers the south west.
- Forests and highlands in the east and mid-section.
- Savannah and Sahelian conditions north of Volta Lake.

- Ghana sits at 0 GMT. Prince's Town is the closest land on earth to 0 longitude and 0 latitude.

- Created by the Akosombo Dam, Volta Lake is the largest man-made lake in the world and covers 8,600 square miles.

- Lake Bosumtwi, near Kumasi, is the world's largest lake created by a meteorite impact.

 

Ghana Economy

- Agriculture accounts for 50% of GDP
- Ghana is the world's second largest producer of cocoa. The chocolate you love probably came from Ghana!

- Mining is the largest earner of foreign capital.
- Gold and bauxite
- Oil in significant quantities has recently been discovered offshore.

- Tourism is the third largest earner of foreign revenue.
- Tourism revenue increased more than 1000% during the period 1985 - 1995
 

Ghana Politics

- President: Professor John Evans Atta Mills

- Executive President and 230 member unicameral legislature.

- Elections every 4 years. Next in December 2012.

- President may stand for a maximum of 2 terms.

- There are 10 Administrative Regions.

 

Ghana Trivia

- Ghana contributes the highest number of female peace keepers to the United Nations.

- The oldest European structure in Africa is the Elmina castle, with original construction starting in 1482.