| Ghana |
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 long 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 succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS took over as head of state in early 2009. | |
Nationality: | |
noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian | |
Ethnic Group: | |
Akan 45.3%, Mole-Dagbon 15.2%, Ewe 11.7%, Ga-Dangme 7.3%, Guan 4%, Gurma 3.6%, Grusi 2.6%, Mande-Busanga 1%, other tribes 1.4%, other 7.8% (2000 census) | |
Languages: | |
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 (includes English (official)) 36.1% (2000 census) | |
Religions: | |
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) | |
Population: | |
25,241,998 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47note: 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 | |
Major Cities - Population: | |
ACCRA (capital) 2.269 million; Kumasi 1.773 million (2009) | |
| Statistics | |
| Percent Urbanization | 51 % |
| Total People Groups | 108 |
| Unreached People Groups | 16 |
| Region | West and Central Africa |
| 10/40 Window | No |
| Official National Language | English |
| Secondary National Language | Ewe |
| Primary Religion | Christianity |
| Percent Christian Adherent | 62.6% [1] |
| Percent Evangelical | 19.2% [2] |
| Country Progress Level | 3.1  |
| Persecution Ranking | Not ranked (1=High to 50=Low OD) |
| Human Development Index | 0.467 (0=Low to 1=High UN) |
