Article Information
Encyclopedia of EarthWater Profile of Ghana
Farmers Fight for CreditArticle from All Africa.com
Pig Farm ProductionsMakers of Ghana's Roosting Bird
Country Statistics
Facts and figures supplied by
CIA world factbook for Ghana
Last updated on the 28/04/09
Facts
Official Name:
Ghana
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote dIvoire and Togo
Capital:
Accra
Independence:
Ghana (former British colony) became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana celebrated its 50th anniversary on 6 March 2007
Demographics
Population
Total: 23,832,495
... Read more note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)...Less
Life Expectancy
Total population:
59.85 years
Male: 58.98 years
Female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)
Language
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)
Religion
Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
Economy
Economy
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance.
Currency
cedi (GHC)
GDP per Capita
$2,600 (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
31.4% (1992 est.)
Industry
Agriculture
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
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds
Imports
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Communications
International Dialling Code
+233
Internet suffix
.gh
News & Media
News
Latest News
Latest Ghana headlines
ghanaian-chronicle.comIncludes news, features, politics and sports
Ghana News Agency.orgGNA, the first news agency to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa.
... Read more It acts as a central news collection agent, gathering news from regional and district capitals...Less
Ghana Review InternationalGRi is an independent publication without affiliation to any political party
... Read more or interest group and is a valuable source of information for Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians wherever they live....Less
Ghanaweb.comComprehensive news site with links and multimedia
Hi Ghana.com A well laid out daily with information on many topics,
... Read more including tourism and development projects....Less
the PointAccra based newspaper
Topix.netNews on Ghana continually updated from thousands of sources around the net
Vibeghana.comDiscussions, videos, movies, funny videos, news articles from Ghana
... Read more and other newspapers. Readers may comment on articles...Less
Africa News
Latest News
Latest Africa headlines
Africa-Interactive.netAfrica Interactive foundation’s mission
... Read more is to strengthen media in Africa by stimulating individual African media talent...Less
Afrik.comNews site in French
Afrol.com African News Agency.
... Read more The only independent news agency dedicated exclusively to Africa...Less
AllAfrica.comNews from 125 African news organisations in English and French
East African Business Week Weekly East African business newspaper.
... Read more Covers Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania...Less
The East African Articles from the latest issue of the Kenya newspaper.
... Read more Part of the Nation Media group which covers Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, news...Less
IRIN News.org Part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
... Read more provides content about emergencies in Africa....Less
JHR.orgJournalists for Human Rights
Nation Media In-depth coverage on Africa news, politics,
... Read more regional business news, magazines and sports...Less
OneWorld.net-Africa Daily world news, views, campaigns,
... Read more events and indepth coverage on human rights and sustainable development...Less
Panapress Africa, News agency, information, media,
... Read more multimedia in Arabic,English & French...Less
Stanford UniversityExcellent site for African news links
World Press.org-AfricaDaily world news from African newspapers
International News
ABYZ News linksSearch worldwide news links by country
AlJazeera.netMiddle East based news site in English
BBC NewsBritish Broadcasting Corporation
CNN NewsCable News Network
Google NewsOnline Search Engine News
Guardian NewspaperEnglish Daily Newspaper Online World Edition
IndyMedia.org A collective of independent media organizations
... Read more and hundreds of journalists offering grassroots, non-corporate coverage & a democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth...Less
IPS News Inter Press Service - a leading civil society news agency
...
Read more that act as an independent voice from the South, delving into untold stories about globalisation and developement...Less
LiveLeak.com-NewsVideo site with news reports from around the world
OneWorld.net Aiming to provide the best online resource for news, opinion,
... Read more events, and campaigns relating to human rights and sustainable development...Less
Online newspapers Worldwide links to newspapers..
... Read more Search by region and country...Less
Peace ReporterReporting conflicts & good news from the world.
ReutersWorld renown News Agency
Sky World NewsPart of the News Corporation Group
World Press.orgGuide to the international press,
... Read more featuring translations from thousands of newspapers in more than 20 languages...Less
Television
Ghana Television
Ghanaweb.comInformation on Ghanaian television
Ghanaweb.comDiasporas Television Broadcasts from the Amsterdam-based Ghanaian television station Gye Nyame TV
Africa Television
Africast
Live news, sports and entertainment from local broadcasters in several African countries
Afrovision
Videos on music, tv-shows and sports and user videos
International Television
Al IslamMuslim Television Ahmadiyya reaching the corners of the earth
AZN TelevisionThe network for Asian American
BBC WorldWorld renown British Broadcasting Corporation
CNN TVCNN TV Listings
Reuters VideoReuters News Video
Sky News TVUpto the minute news reports from Sky News
Radio
Ghana Radio
ghanawaves.comInternet Radio for Ghanaians abroad from Accra. Web site based in Germany
Africa Radio
Africa N1Paris based African radio station in French
African Hip Hop Radio AfricanHipHopRadio.com is the continuation of the Rumba-Kali webcast
... Read more which has been online since 1998 at Africanhiphop.com playing those tunes that you won’t hear anywhere else...Less
African Music RadioPromoting African Music to the world through the internet
First Voice International RadioProviding underserved populations with vital information from satellite radio
Ghetto RadioRevealling the fuller picture of ghetto life and culture in Africa
Trans World AfricaTrans World Radio broadcasts the Gospel of Jesus Christ
... Read more to more than 40 countries in Africa in more than 60 languages and dialects...Less
International Radio
BBC World ServiceRenown British Broadcasting Corporation World Service
Radio-locatorLinks to over 10,000 radio station web pages
... Read more and over 2500 audio streams from radio stations in the U.S. and around the world...Less
Radio Station WorldGlobal Radio Directory
Arts & Culture
Ghana Art
Adinkra SymbologyArticle on Adinkra Symbology and philosophy
Akan Cultural Symbols ProjectIntroduction and guide to the related books and CD-ROM components,
... Read more arhitecture, wood carving, pottery, textiles, links...Less
Cultural collaborative.orgAn educational organisation that invites people to Ghana
... Read more to promote cultural exchange and understanding through the arts...Less
Africa Art
Adire African TextilesSite dedicated to African Textiles
African ColoursGallery for African artists
African Philosophy ResourcesDatabase of African Philosophy
Africa Resource.com Art GalleryOnline exhibition of Africa Art
Art & Life in AfricaLots of links to African Arts
Art Mattersflaunting arts and culture in Africa
Ghana Culture
Ashanti.comHistory and culture of the Ashanti People
International Center for African Culture and Arts (ICACA)NGO dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate folk traditions
...Read more and local culture of past and present life in Africa...Less
Africa Culture
Africultures.com Providing information on and in-depth analysis of contemporary cultural
... Read more expressions in Africa and the diaspora. In English & French...Less
Africa e Mediterraneo An interdisciplinary journal of African cultural studies,
... Read more published three times a year by the Lai-momo Press. In English & French...Less
African Wildlife FoundationThe leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa
Behind the Mask Through journalistic activism, strives to change negative
... Read more attitudes towards homosexuality and same sex traditions in Africa...Less
Cafe AfricanaA centre for arts, culture, lifestyle and politics
Internet African History SourcebookHistory site for Africa
Warm Africa.com-CultureSite covering News, Travel, Culture, Sport & Economy
Ghana Film
Ayamye HomepageDocumentary on what a bicycle can bring to a community
Popular CinemaArticle by Birgit Meyer on Ghanian popular cinema
Africa Film
Africa Cinemas A new impetus to the exhibition of African,
... Read more European and French-language films in Africa. In English & French...Less
Africam.comAfricam - always live, always wild
African Film.com Distributing films that focus on the human experience of black people in Africa,
... Read more the Caribbean, North and South America and Europe...Less
African Film CommissionThe official organization that promotes the economic development and integration of African film industry
African Women in CinemaProject by Beti Ellerson, Ph.D. on African Women in Cinema
Columbia Universities LibrariesLinks to Africa Films & Videos site
Filmmaker South AfricaSite for South African Filmmakers
SA Film.orgA resource for independent South African film-makers
Ghana Museums
Gramophone Records Museum of GhanaHouses records and oral history recordings, all collected in Ghana
Ghanian MuseumList of museums with details
ICOMthe International Council of Museums, Ghana
National Museum in AccraObjects of archeology, ethnography, fine art
Africa Museums
Africom.MuseumInternational Council of African Museums
Allny.comListings of African Museums
Clickafrique.comDirectory of African Museums & Galleries
Museum Online South AfricaListings of South African Museums
National Museum of African Art The National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution,
... Read more features African art from antiquity to the present...Less
Royal Museum for Central AfricaHome to some truly remarkable collections
West African Museums ProgrammeProviding services to museums and related institutions in West Africa
Ghana Music
Bernard Woma
Students from around the globe, live and work at the center,
...
Read more
where they pursue studies in traditional drumming, dancing, xylophone music and visual arts
...Less
Dagara MusicMaster of Dagara music, is one of the leading traditional African musicians in Ghana.
...Read more View sample videoclips and learn about Dagara music and culture...Less
Ghanian hiphop bandsIndependent, uncensored site that unifies everybody who is inspired by hip hop
...Read more and by the cultures of Africa. The info at Africanhiphop.com is provided mostly by the artists themselves...Less
Kusum Gboo Dance EnsembleKusum Gboo Dance Ensemble.
...Read more The group performs traditional African Music and Dance alongside their own creative and choreographed dance pieces. Updates on performances, workshops, CD releases, mailing list...Less
Rockydawuni.comGhanaian reggae singer
Africa Music
Africa Hit.comStreaming the best African music videos 24/7
African MusicAfrican music encyclopedia
African Music HubA portal for African Music with access to sites,
... Read more information, news, discussion forum and mail lists...Less
African Musicians Profiles.comThink the title says it all
Afropop.orgAfrican & World music via public radio & the web
BBC MusicEchoes of Africa - Looking at the influence of African music
Dance Drummer.comBrilliant site about African Drumming with lots of interactivety & videos
ILAM TITLE International Library of African Music (ILAM)
... Read more - The largest archive of African music in sub-Saharan Africa...Less
MaduniaPromoting African music and supporting local initiatives of African musicians
RootsWorld AfricaLinks to African Music
Xplastaz.comMaasai Hip Hop - African Rap
Zadonu.comAfrican Music & Dance Company
Ghana Theatre
Talented Youth Theatre (TYT)Events, videos, volounteer and members page
Theatre for a changeCharity InterACT in Ghana
Africa Theatre
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble Making African theatre accessible to the public
... Read more through performances of old and new creations, workshops and staged productions...Less
African Theatre USAProviding African Theatre, drama, and entertainment, with Africa pictures online
Click Afrique.comLinks to African theatre & Entertainment
EATI.net Eastern Africa Theatre Institute.
... Read more Promoting theatre from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda...Less
Iroko Theatre Company Interactive performances in the art of oral storytelling,
... Read more drama, music and dance to help educate and enhance the creative potential, self-confidence and self-esteem of children and young people...Less
Organisations
Governmental
Ghana
Ghana50.govGhana was the first country in Sub Sahara Africa that gained independence.
... Read more 2007 marks 50 years of independence. Biographies of presidents, how to invest in Ghana, history of Ghana, visitor information, facts about Ghana, events & performances etc....Less
Government of GhanaOfficial web page of the Government of Ghana.
... Read more General information, investment, travel, foreign policy, Ghana embassies...Less
Africa
Africa InformationAfrican government websites
Finance Wise.comAfrican Government and Supranational Sites
Keele GuideThe Keele Guide to African Government & Politics
... Read more on the Internet with links to a wide range of African countries...Less
Orenga PoliticsOxford Research Network on Government in Africa
University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
... Read more documents centre for Foreign Governments of Sub-Saharan Africa...Less
Non-Governmental
Ghana
ABANTUOrganisation established by African women based in Europe on gender and policy advocacy
Ghana Centre for Democratic DevelopmentIndependent, nonpartisan think tank, dedicated to the promotion of democracy,
... Read more good governance and the development of a liberal political and economic environment...Less
Culturalcollaborative.orgAn educational non-profit that invites people to promote cultural exchange
... Read more and understanding through the artist...Less
Geocities Action Child MobilizationRescue of destitute street and homeless children
... Read more through extensive and innovative initiatives...Less
Ghana DistirctA network of media and IT professionals
... Read more dedicated to developing this website to promote local governance...Less
GhanacybergroupGCG was founded to leverage advances in information technology to strengthen the economy
Ghana EducationGEP has 120 AIDS Awareness workshops,
... Read more 8 libraries, 2 documentaries and one mobile hospital design...Less
Ghana Rural Action Support ProgrammeGRASPs aim is to support the rural poor, especially women and children
Ghana Social Marketing FoundationMineshield is an HIV/AIDS prevention programme targeted at the mining industry
MAMMOCAREMAMMOCARE provide breast cancer awareness
... Read more and serves as an information, screening, treatment and resource centre...Less
The Mustard Seed Serves street children and other needy youths
... Read more through educational scholarships, different programmes, micro loans, methods of self-financing...Less
Nakid FoundationWorks for the advancement of health care in kidney diseases,
... Read more providing assistance, advice and counselling to kidney patients...Less
RATASTalking on a range of broadcasting issues, serving as a mouthpiece for listeners and viewers
Street Child RescueSCR is dedicated to improve the chances of survival for abandoned and homeless children
Youth Creating Change of GhanaYCC inspires youth to create positive change
... Read more within their communities and lives through leadership training, educational and career planning...Less
VolunteerInGhanaDifferent volunteer work in rural Ghana
Women in ProgressAims to achieve economic independence of women
... Read more and alleviate poverty through small women-owned businesses...Less
WORLDwrite.orgWORLDwrite's mission is to challenge prejudices and stereotypes
... Read more by giving young people a unique opportunity to see the world from a fresh perspective through a first-hand, investigative filmmaking experience. The charity helps create links between young people across the globe, encouraging them to learn from their peers, develop new skills, expand their horizons and champion the aspirations of newfound friends....Less
Africa
Actionaid in Africa A unique partnership of people
... Read more whose mission is to work with poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and injustice globally...Less
ACTSA.org Action for Southern Africa striving to build
... Read more a better future, working for peace, democracy and development across the region...Less
Africa Resource An educational portal that develops and distributes educational materials,
... Read more academic research and products on Africa and Diaspora...Less
AJOL.info African Journals Online.
... Read more A service to provide access to African published research, and increase worldwide knowledge of indigenous scholarship...Less
Amnesty International-South AfricaSouth Africa website of Amnesty International
AWFThe African Wildlife Foundation
CUL-African StudiesA wealth of information & links about Africa from Columbia University Library
HOPEHIVSeeking to offer HIV infected/affected children in sub-Saharan Africa support and hope for the future
IFEX-Africa International Freedom of Expression eXchange.
... Read more Reporting on violations of freedom of expression from Africa...Less
MSF-Africa Médecins Sans Frontiéres. Doctors without Borders
... Read more provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries...Less
RECLISAReducing Exploitive Child Labour in South Africa.
ReliefWeb-Africa The world’s leading on-line gateway to information
... Read more (documents and maps) on humanitarian emergencies and disaster...Less
Sahims.net Southern Africa Humanitarian Information
... Read more Management Network - Articles & links to Humanitarian work in Southern Africa...Less
Salesian Society Internationally recognised leaders in the field of schooling for the poor,
... Read more focusing on the needs of abandoned and neglected children and youths...Less
SARPN The Southern African Regional Poverty Network
... Read more promotes debate and knowledge sharing on poverty reduction processes in Southern Africa...Less
UNPAN-Africa United Nations Online Network in Public Administration
... Read more and Finance provides a comprehensive set of e.g. databases covering Governance, statistics, training, web directory...Less
Education
Schools
Ghana ChildProject to build schools in Ghana
Lehigh UniversityArticle on education in Ghana
Wikipedia-High SchoolsListings of High Schools in Ghana
Universities
CCUCentral University College
CEFIKS Centre For Indigenous Knowledge Systems,
... Read more devoted solely to the research, monitoring, documentation, and coordination of indigenous knowledge systems...Less
CSIRThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Ghanaweb.comOverview Ghana education
Kwame Nkrumah UniversityUniversity of Science & Technology
Marshall.eduSchool and community programmes, including Kente weaving
UCCUniversity of Cape Coast
University of GhanaUniversity of Ghana
VVUValley View University
Travel
Travel Information
Advice
General advice & information on safety and security
Currency
ATM, travellers cheques and banks
Health Precautions
Important information on medical facilities, vaccinations, food and drinks
Passports & Visas
Passport required by all. Visas required by most non-residents except ECOWAS nationals. Ghana Missions and Embassies abroad will assist in issuing individual & group visas.
Air
Fly-Ghana.comGhana International Airlines
Ghana Civil Aviation AuthorityBook tickets, flight schedule and information.
Kotoka International Airport is situated 10km north of Accra. Taxis to the city are available (approx. 20 min for £3), or can get the cheaper tro-tros (mini van). It costs GHC 22 000 for international departures and GHC500 for domestic departures (should be included in your ticket), subject to change without warning. The airport has banks/bureaux de change, car hire, restaurants and tourist information.
Land
Car
Car Rental
There are many car hire companies (but expensive) offering a variety of services and vehicles.
Public Transport
Buses & Taxis
There are several bus lines in Ghana. The most popular is the Intercity STC Coaches which links most of the larger cities in Ghana. Taxi costs can be reduced by pick others along the road. A shared taxi from Accra to Cape Coast is around 80,000 – 100,000 Cedi.
Sea
The domestic passenger boat on lake Volta runs from Akosombo in the South to Yeji in the North. The trip takes about 24 hours
Train
There are three train lines in Ghana: Accra to Kumasi, Accra to Takoradi, Kumasi to Takoradi
Travel Links
Abatours.comMeet Ghanaians on a personal level, live and work with them in their villages.
... Read more Visit schools, health care professionals, traditional healers and dancers...Less
ananseghana.orgDrumming and Dancing workshops, Ananse Village, Pabi
GhanaguideAfricaguide’s Ghana site
GhanaTourism.govGhana government tourism site
GhanaTourism.gov FestivalsList of fun festivities
AfricaGuideCycle in Ghana
Primitive Ventures.comNative Ghanian tourist guide
TravelBlog.orgBlogs, forums, facts, photos
VirtualTouristWorldwide travel community
... Read more where travellers and locals share travel advice and experiences...Less
World66.comAn open content travel guide on the Net with good travel resources and links
Sports
Ghana
Africabasket.comGhanian men basektball main page
Ghana Football AssociationGFA official site provides news, information, photo gallery
Africa
Africabasket.comAfrica basektball portal
African FootballAfrican Football news from the BBC
Africa GuideLive African Sports News
African SportAfrican Sport e-magazine
... Read more - focusing on any sporting activity which African people paricipate. Especially, football, athletics and boxing....Less
African Studies Centerlinks to African Sports
African Studies CenterLibrary, documentation and information on African Sports.
ANOCOAAssociation of National Olympic Committees of Africa
Cafonline.comConfederation of African Football
... Read more Official site of African football in English and French....Less
iafrica.comSports news from Africa.
Stanford LibraryAfrican Sports links.
Technology
Internet
Africa Online GhanaOffering the consumer a number of different products & packages
Cybercafes.comInternet cafes in Accra and Tema
Ghanakeyboards.comGhanaian Languages Support Systems for Windows (winGlass)
Technology
etranzact.come- and m-commerce in Ghana
Telecommunications
ghanatelecom.comGhana largest telecomm company
ghanaweb.com communicationStats and figures
onetouch.comOneTouch telecommunication company
Links
ghanaweb.comComprehensive resource about Ghana, including news, information, entertainment and possibilities to get in touch with Ghanaians
Stanford UniversityGhana-related links to a variety of organisations, research centres, articles and topics
UN Ghana Links to a wide variety of topics, jobs, politics, news etc.