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Ghana Country Profile by Rebecca Rose Steingut

With a population of 23.5 million and 240,000 sq km large, Ghana is a located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea in Western Africa. It borders the Cote d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the west and to the north, and Togo to the east. Although English is the official language, the population is split into many small linguistic groups: 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).

Culture/Religion

Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam

Government

'Ghana is often seen as a model for political and economic reform in Africa.' Over the age of 18, Ghanians have the right to universal suffrage. They elect both the president and the parlimentarians by popular vote. The President selects his cabinet. President John Agyekum Kufour has served two consecutive terms (one term is four years) which will expire in December of 2008.

Membership status in multinational organizations

Member of United Nations, African Union

Controversial Domestic Issues

a) Child Labor: Ghanaian parents send their children into dangerous working conditions because they need the money to support the family. Although they feel they have no other choice, NGOs urge them to prioritize their childrens' education. b) Health: Ghana has yet to reach one of its Millenium Deelopment goals: life expectancy has yet to reach age 60. This is partly due to HIV/AIDS, a high rate of infant/toddler mortality and hunger. c) Gender: Women in Ghana are subjected to severe abuse and violation of their constitutional rights. In rural areas women remain subject to burdensome labor conditions and traditional male dominance. Rape and domestic violence remains a significant problem in Ghana. Female Genital Mutilation is also a serious problem.

Controversial International Issues

a) Drug Trade: Ghana produces cannabis and serves as a hub for southwest and southeast asian heroin. b) UN Millenium Goals: Ghana is expected to halve poverty before the goal of 2015, and is projected to do so as early as 2012. c) Climate Change: Ghana relies on agricultural production for 37.3% of its GDP, but the northern part of the country is particularly vulnerable to droughts that endanger its agricultural output and the livelihood of many ghanaians.

Citations

1. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1023355.stm
3. http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/ghtoc.html
4. http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/
5. http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/mp_ccspaper_jan1704.pdf
6. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
7. http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/pages/news_detail.php?section=1&newsid=375
8. http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Women/profiles/ghana_women.htm
9. http://www.ghananewsagency.org/s_social/r_4912/