Introduction
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 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 of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency has changed parties since the return to democracy.
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Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
total: 2,420 km
border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km, Cote d'Ivoire 720 km, Togo 1098 km
Coastline
539 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation
highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 190 m
Natural resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use
agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 21.2% (2018 est.)
other: 9.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
340 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Population distribution
population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Geography - note
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created following the completion of the Akosombo Dam in 1965, which holds back the White Volta and Black Volta Rivers
People and Society
Population
32,372,889 (July 2021 est.)
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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Nationality
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups
Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)
Languages
Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.)
note: English is the official language
Religions
Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
Demographic profile
Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25. Its total fertility rate fell significantly during the 1980s and 1990s but has stalled at around four children per woman for the last few years. Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. Increased life expectancy, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has declined in Ghana, but it remains pervasive in the northern region, which is susceptible to droughts and floods and has less access to transportation infrastructure, markets, fertile farming land, and industrial centers. The northern region also has lower school enrollment, higher illiteracy, and fewer opportunities for women.
Ghana was a country of immigration in the early years after its 1957 independence, attracting labor migrants largely from Nigeria and other neighboring countries to mine minerals and harvest cocoa – immigrants composed about 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960. In the late 1960s, worsening economic and social conditions discouraged immigration, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly Nigerians, were expelled.
During the 1970s, severe drought and an economic downturn transformed Ghana into a country of emigration; neighboring Cote d’Ivoire was the initial destination. Later, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria to work in its booming oil industry, but most were deported in 1983 and 1985 as oil prices plummeted. Many Ghanaians then turned to more distant destinations, including other parts of Africa, Europe, and North America, but the majority continued to migrate within West Africa. Since the 1990s, increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drained the country of its health care and education professionals. Internally, poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the north to the south, particularly to its urban centers.
Age structure
0-14 years: 37.44% (male 5,524,932/female 5,460,943)
15-24 years: 18.64% (male 2,717,481/female 2,752,601)
25-54 years: 34.27% (male 4,875,985/female 5,177,959)
55-64 years: 5.21% (male 743,757/female 784,517)
65 years and over: 4.44% (male 598,387/female 703,686) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 67.4
youth dependency ratio: 62.2
elderly dependency ratio: 5.3
potential support ratio: 17.1 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 21.4 years
male: 21 years
female: 21.9 years (2020 est.)
Population distribution
population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 58% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.390 million Kumasi, 2.557 million ACCRA (capital), 991,000 Sekondi Takoradi (2021)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.7 years (2014 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
308 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36Infant mortality rate
total: 33.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.01 years
male: 67.33 years
female: 70.74 years (2021 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
27.2% (2017/18)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 97.4% of population
rural: 80.6% of population
total: 89.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population
rural: 19.4% of population
total: 10.1% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
3.5% (2018)
Physicians density
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 84.2% of population
rural: 49.5% of population
total: 68.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 15.8% of population
rural: 50.5% of population
total: 31.3% of population (2017 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 83.5%
female: 74.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 9.1%
male: 9.4%
female: 8.7% (2017 est.)
Environment
Environment - current issues
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threaten wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 31.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 16.67 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 22.75 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Land use
agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 21.2% (2018 est.)
other: 9.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 58% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 3.51% of GDP (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,538,275 tons (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
56.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
etymology: named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name but whose location was actually further north than the modern country
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Akan word "nkran" meaning "ants," and refers to the numerous anthills in the area around the capital
Administrative divisions
16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North
Independence
6 March 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution
history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
amendments: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda; amended 1996
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024)
election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party (preliminary) - NPP 137, NDC 137, independent 1; composition - NA
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals
Political parties and leaders
All Peoples Congress or APC [Hassan AYARIGA]
Convention People's Party or CPP [Edmund N. DELLE]
Ghana Freedom Party or GFP [Akua DONKOR]
Ghana Union Movement or GUM [Christian Kwabena ANDREWS]
Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Henry Herbert LARTEY]
Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG [Kofi AKPALOO]
National Democratic Congress or NDC [John Dramani MAHAMA]
National Democratic Party or NDP [Nana Konadu Agyeman RAWLINGS]
New Patriotic Party or NPP [Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO]
People's Action Party or PAP [Imoru AYARNA]
People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]
Progressive People's Party or PPP [Paa Kwesi NDUOM]
United Front Party or UFP [Dr. Nana A. BOATENG]
United Progressive Party or UPP [Akwasi Addai ODIKE]
note: Ghana has more than 20 registered parties; included are those which participated in the 2020 general election
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Alima MAHAMA (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
email address and website:
info@ghanaembassydc.org
https://ghanaembassydc.org/
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 23 January 2019)
embassy: No.24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra
mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020
telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000
email address and website:
ACSAccra@state.gov
https://gh.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
National symbol(s)
black star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black
National anthem
name: God Bless Our Homeland Ghana
lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO
note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup
Economy
Economic overview
Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region, and Ghana is endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency.
Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. Gold, oil, and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the fall in oil prices since 2015 reduced by half Ghana’s oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's first commercial offshore oilfield, began in mid-December 2010. Production from two more fields, TEN and Sankofa, started in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atuabo is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants.
As of 2018, key economic concerns facing the government include the lack of affordable electricity, lack of a solid domestic revenue base, and the high debt burden. The AKUFO-ADDO administration has made some progress by committing to fiscal consolidation, but much work is still to be done. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets require Ghana to reduce the deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, boosting tax revenues, and improving the health of Ghana’s banking sector. Priorities for the new administration include rescheduling some of Ghana’s $31 billion debt, stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the currency. Prospects for new oil and gas production and follow through on tighter fiscal management are likely to help Ghana’s economy in 2018.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$164.84 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$164.16 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$154.13 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
8.4% (2017 est.)
3.7% (2016 est.)
3.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$5,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$5,400 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$5,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$65.363 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8.4% (2019 est.)
9.8% (2018 est.)
12.3% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: B (2013)
Moody's rating: B3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 18.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 24.5% (2017 est.)
services: 57.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 80.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 8.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -46.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, cocoa, oranges, pineapples
Industries
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 44.7%
industry: 14.4%
services: 40.9% (2013 est.)
Population below poverty line
23.4% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
43.5 (2016 est.)
42.3 (2012-13)
41.9 (2005-06)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)
Budget
revenues: 9.544 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 12.36 billion (2017 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$2.131 billion (2017 est.)
-$2.86 billion (2016 est.)
Exports
$25.59 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$22.51 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
Switzerland 23%, India 17%, China 12%, United Arab Emirates 8%, South Africa 8% (2019)
Exports - commodities
gold, crude petroleum, cocoa products, manganese, cashews (2019)
Imports
$26.91 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$23.22 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
China 24%, Nigeria 22%, United States 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
metal tubing, ships, cars, refined petroleum, rice (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$7.555 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.162 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external
$20.467 billion (2019 est.)
$17.885 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
cedis (GHC) per US dollar -
5.86 (2020 est.)
5.68 (2019 est.)
4.9 (2018 est.)
3.712 (2014 est.)
2.895 (2013 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 9.1%
male: 9.4%
female: 8.7% (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 85% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 93% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 75% (2019)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
3.801 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92Electricity - from fossil fuels
58% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48Electricity - from other renewable sources
1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152Refined petroleum products - production
2,073 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104Refined petroleum products - consumption
90,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83Natural gas - proved reserves
22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 307,668 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 40,461,609 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130.2 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: challenged by unreliable electricity, Ghana seeks to extend telecom services nationally; investment in fiber infrastructure enabled 600 additional towers to provide basic mobile services; launch of LTE has improved mobile data services, including m-commerce and banking; highly competitive Internet market, most through mobile networks; international submarine cables, and terrestrial cables have improved Internet capacity and reduced prices (2020)
domestic: fixed-line about 1 per 100 subscriptions; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 130 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 233; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, MainOne, ACE, WACS and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South and West Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors; Ghana-1 satellite launched in 2020 (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media
state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable
Internet users
total: 15.7 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 53% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 78,371 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 467,438 (2018)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
Pipelines
394 km gas, 20 km oil, 361 km refined products (2013)
Railways
total: 947 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
Roadways
total: 109,515 km (2009)
paved: 13,787 km (2009)
unpaved: 95,728 km (2009)
Waterways
1,293 km (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 56Merchant marine
total: 51
by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 3, other 41 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Ghana Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2021)
Military expenditures
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2019)
0.4% of GDP (2018)
0.3% of GDP (2017)
0.3% of GDP (2016)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Ghana Armed Forces consists of approximately 14,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the inventory of the Ghana Armed Forces is a mix of Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment; since 2010, it has received armaments from a variety of suppliers, led by
China, Germany, Russia, and Spain (2020)
Military deployments
150 Mali (MINUSMA); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (Sep 2021)
Maritime threats
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Military service age and obligation
18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2019)
Military - note
the military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army
as of 2021, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 6,425 (Cote d'Ivoire) (flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2021)
Illicit drugs
a transit and destination point for illicit drugs trafficked from Asia and South America to other African nations and Europe, and to a lesser extent the United States; cultivation of cannabis for domestic use and is trafficked to regional markets or to Europe