World Factbook
Ghana
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, but he 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, however, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that the Ghana’s presidency has changed parties since the return to democracy.
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
total: 238,533 sq km
land: 227,533 sq km
water: 11,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 83
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: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
continental shelf: 200nm
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
mean elevation: 190 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
Natural resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use
agricultural land: 69.1% (2011 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 11.9% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 36.5% (2011 est.)
forest: 21.2% (2011 est.)
other: 9.7% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
340 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast
Natural hazards
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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
28,102,471 (July 2018 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
country comparison to the world: 49
Nationality
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups
Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande 1.1%, other 1.4% (2010 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 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 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: 37.83%(male 5,344,146 /female 5,286,383)
15-24 years: 18.61%(male 2,600,390 /female 2,629,660)
25-54 years: 34.21%(male 4,663,234 /female 4,950,888)
55-64 years: 5.05%(male 690,327 /female 727,957)
65 years and over: 4.3%(male 557,155 /female 652,331) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 73 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 67.1 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.1 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 21.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 20.7 years
female: 21.7 years
country comparison to the world: 185
Population growth rate
2.16% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Birth rate
30.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Death rate
6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Net migration rate
-1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Population distribution
population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast
Urbanization
urban population: 56.7% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.206 million Kumasi, 2.475 million ACCRA (capital), 900,000 Sekondi Takoradi (2019)
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 (2018 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
22.3 years (2017 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate
308 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Infant mortality rate
total: 34.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.1 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 52
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.4 years (2018 est.)
male: 64.9 years
female: 70 years
country comparison to the world: 172
Total fertility rate
3.96 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Contraceptive prevalence rate
30.8% (2017)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 92.6% of population
rural: 84% of population
total: 88.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 7.4% of population
rural: 16% of population
total: 11.3% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
4.4% (2016)
Physicians density
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 20.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 8.6% of population (2015 est.)
total: 14.9% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 79.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 91.4% of population (2015 est.)
total: 85.1% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.7% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
330,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - deaths
14,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever (2016)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
10.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 136
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.2% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 57
Education expenditures
3.6% of GDP (2017)
country comparison to the world: 119
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 82%
female: 71.4% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2017)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 15.2%
male: 15.8%
female: 14.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
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 (2017)
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 2016 (next to be held in December 2020)
election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 53.7%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 44.5%, other 1.8%
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 2016 (next to be held in December 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 54%, NDC 44%, other 2%; seats by party - NPP 171, NDC 104; composition - men 240, women 35, percent of women 12.7%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 12 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
note: Ghana has more than 20 registered parties; included are 5 of the more popular parties as of May 2017
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
Ambassador Barfour ADJEI-BARWUAH (since 21 July 2017)
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephanie S. SULLIVAN (since 30 November 2018)
telephone: [233] 030-274-1000
embassy: 24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra
P.O. Box GP2288, Accra
mailing address: P.O. Box 194, Accra
FAX: [233] 030-274-1389
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
Economy - 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$134 billion (2017 est.)
$123.6 billion (2016 est.)
$119.2 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 80
GDP (official exchange rate)
$47.02 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
8.4% (2017 est.)
3.7% (2016 est.)
3.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,700 (2017 est.)
$4,500 (2016 est.)
$4,400 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 172
Gross national saving
9% of GDP (2017 est.)
7.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
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.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 18.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 24.5% (2017 est.)
services: 57.2% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Industries
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate
16.7% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Labor force
12.49 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 44.7%
industry: 14.4%
services: 40.9% (2013 est.)
Unemployment rate
11.9% (2015 est.)
5.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Population below poverty line
24.2% (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
42.3 (2012-13)
41.9 (2005-06)
Budget
revenues: 9.544 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 12.36 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Public debt
71.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
12.4% (2017 est.)
17.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Central bank discount rate
20% (31 December 2017)
25.5% (31 December 2016)
country comparison to the world: 5
Commercial bank prime lending rate
30.35% (31 December 2017 est.)
31.26% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Stock of narrow money
$7.018 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.472 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Stock of broad money
$7.018 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.472 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Stock of domestic credit
$14.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$13.67 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Market value of publicly traded shares
$13.41 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$13.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$15.11 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Current account balance
-$2.131 billion (2017 est.)
-$2.86 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Exports
$13.84 billion (2017 est.)
$11.14 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Exports - partners
India 23.8%, UAE 13.4%, China 10.8%, Switzerland 10.1%, Vietnam 5.2%, Burkina Faso 4% (2017)
Exports - commodities
oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products
Imports
$12.65 billion (2017 est.)
$12.91 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Imports - commodities
capital equipment, refined petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners
China 16.8%, US 8%, UK 6.2%, Belgium 5.9%, India 4.1% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$7.555 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.162 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Debt - external
$22.14 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$16.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$19.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$118 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$16.62 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$109 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Exchange rates
cedis (GHC) per US dollar -
4.385 (2017 est.)
3.909 (2016 est.)
3.909 (2015 est.)
3.712 (2014 est.)
2.895 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
population without electricity: 5 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 79.3% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 89.8% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 66.6% (2016)
Electricity - production
12.52 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - consumption
9.363 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Electricity - exports
187 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - imports
511 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - installed generating capacity
3.801 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - from fossil fuels
58% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Electricity - from other renewable sources
1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Crude oil - production
173,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Crude oil - exports
104,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Crude oil - imports
6,220 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Crude oil - proved reserves
660 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Refined petroleum products - production
2,073 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Refined petroleum products - consumption
90,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Refined petroleum products - exports
2,654 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Refined petroleum products - imports
85,110 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - production
914.4 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - consumption
1.232 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - imports
317.4 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - proved reserves
22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
13.67 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 301,551
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 36,751,761
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Telephone system
general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; 2019 to bring universal access licenses; government invested in fiber infrastructure; one of the most active mobile markets in Africa (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 1 per 100 subscriptions; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 140 per 100 persons and rising (2018)
international: country code - 233; landing point 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 (2019)
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 country code
.gh
Internet users
total: 9,328,018
percent of population: 34.7% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 56,810
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Military and Security
Military expenditures
0.41% of GDP (2018)
0.4% of GDP (2017)
0.38% of GDP (2016)
0.52% of GDP (2015)
0.68% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 150
Military and security forces
Ghana Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2019)
Military service age and obligation
18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative (2012)
Maritime threats
West African piracy more than doubled in 2018 to become the most dangerous area in the World; the waters off of Ghana saw a dramatic increase with 10 attacks reported in 2018 compared with only one in 2017; eight ships were boarded, one hijacked, and 47 crew taken hostage or kidnapped
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 4 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 390,457 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 844,630mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9G (2016)
Airports
10 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 155
Airports - with paved runways
total: 7 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 3 (2013)
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 km1.067-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 92
Roadways
total: 109,515 km (2009)
paved: 13,787 km (2009)
unpaved: 95,728 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
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: 56
Merchant marine
total: 44
by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 2, other 36 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 116
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 6,517 (Cote d'Ivoire) (flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2019)
IDPs: 5,000 (land disputes between ethnic communities in the north in 2018) (2018)
Trafficking in persons
current situation: Ghana is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the trafficking of Ghanians, particularly children, internally is more common than the trafficking of foreign nationals; Ghanian children are subjected to forced labor in fishing, domestic service, street hawking, begging, portering, mining, quarrying, herding, and agriculture, with girls, and to a lesser extent boys, forced into prostitution; Ghanian women, sometimes lured with legitimate job offers, and girls are sex trafficked in West Africa, the Middle East, and Europe; Ghanian men fraudulently recruited for work in the Middle East are subjected to forced labor or prostitution, and a few Ghanian adults have been identified as victims of false labor in the US; women and girls from Vietnam, China, and neighboring West African countries are sex trafficked in Ghana; the country is also a transit point for sex trafficking from West Africa to Europe
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Ghana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; Ghana continued to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses but was unable to ramp up its anti-trafficking efforts in 2014 because the government failed to provide law enforcement or protection agencies with operating budgets; victim protection efforts decreased in 2014, with significantly fewer victims identified; most child victims were referred to NGO-run facilities, but care for adults was lacking because the government did not provide any support to the country’s Human Trafficking Fund for victim services or its two shelters; anti-trafficking prevention measures increased modestly, including reconvening of the Human Trafficking Management Board, public awareness campaigns on child labor and trafficking, and anti-trafficking TV and radio programs (2015)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money-laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use
