ABOUT GHANA

The Republic of Ghana is named after the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa. The actual name of the empire was controlled by Sundiata in 1240AD, and was absorbed into the larger Mali Empire.

Geographically the old Ghana is 500 miles north of present Ghana, and occupies an area between Rivers Senegal and Niger.

Before March 1957 Ghana was known as the Gold Coast. Formed from the merger of the British colony Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence.

A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of politica parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry Rawlings, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. He was succeeded by John Agyekum Kufuor.

Full Country Name: Republic of Ghana
Area: 238,540 sq k (93,030 sq mi)
Population: 19.7 million
Capital City: Accra
People: Akan (44%), Mole-Dagbane(16%), Ewe(13%), Ga(8%), Guan, Gurma, Gonja, Dagomba
Langauge: English(official language), Ewe, Ga, Twi
Religion: Christian (60%), Muslim (15%), traditional African beliefs (25%)
Government: Parliamentary democracy
President: John Agyekum Kufuor
Time: GMT/UTC
Electricity: 220V/240V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metrics
Climate: Ghana's average temperature is between 25C (75F) and 29C (84F) and quite humid. The rainy season lasts from April though July with a short spill in October.
Health Concerns: Updating your tetanus vaccine is recommended as are cholera, and typoid. Malaria is prevalent and it is advisable to take anti-malaria medication. Bilharzia is a parasite with a long complicated life cycle. It is quite common in fresh water all over Africa, you are therefore advised to use extreme caution when swimming in lakes and lagoons.