Ghana which is located in Western Africa borders the Gulf of Gineau. Its lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean and its highest point is Mount Afadjato. This is between Cote d’lvoire and Togo. In 1957 Ghana become the first country in Africa to gain its independence. Ghana is considered a constitutional democracy government. The native language is officially English and African. African languages include Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe and Ga. The capital of Ghana is Accra and it has 10 regions that include the following.
Region Capital
Greater Accra Region Accra
Central Region Cape Coast-
Ashanti Region Kumasi
Eastern Region Koforidua
Western Region Sekondi Takoradi
Northern Region Tamale
Upper East Region Bolgatanga
Upper West Region Wa
Volta Region Ho
Brong Ahafto Region Sunyani
The following facts were researched from world fact book at the time of last census. The population of Ghana is 21,029, 853. Ghana has a population growth of 1.779% and a mortality rate of 56.54 deaths to every 1,000 live births. Tema, Cape Coast and Takoradi are the largest cities in Ghana.
The estimated percentages of population based on age are as follows:
~Birth to 14 years: 41%
~15-64: 55%
~65 and older 4%
It is noted that the estimates for population and birth and death ratios should take into account the effect of AIDS on the mortality rates. This factor is noted on all statistical resources gathered to identify the population counts. AIDS and HIV is a top health factor in Ghana and many other areas of Africa. Ghana is 98.5% black African with the major tribes being Akan, Gurma and Yoruba. Europeans make up 1/5% of the population. Religious practices are 63% Christian, 16% Muslim and 21 % other beliefs.
Ghana’s climate is considered tropical. It is warm and dry along the southeast coast, hot and humid in the southwest and hot and dry the more north in Ghana you go. Ghana’s terrain is mostly low plains with some plateau areas in the south central region Ghana does have a few natural hazards to its regions. It can be dry and dusty with heavy wind warnings from January through March. Given its tropical region, droughts are a major concern across all of the regions of Ghana. Droughts have historically affected agriculture, caused erosion and threatened wildlife populations as well as limited clean water supplies. Ghana has irrigation systems set up to deal with the potential for harmful droughts; despite this drought is one of the major natural disasters that pose a major financial issue for Ghana.
