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Ghana

Location

A major cocoa-producing nation in West Africa that has seen a roughly 50% decline in cocoa production due to adverse weather and disease.


First Mentioned

1/1/2026, 6:10:50 AM

Last Updated

1/1/2026, 6:15:35 AM

Research Retrieved

1/1/2026, 6:15:35 AM

Summary

Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a West African nation situated on the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. It shares borders with Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo, and covers a diverse area of 239,567 km2, ranging from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With over 35 million inhabitants, Ghana is the thirteenth-most populous country in Africa and the second-most populous in West Africa, with Accra serving as its capital and largest city. Historically, the region saw the emergence of kingdoms like Bonoman and Dagbon, followed by the Asante Empire. European powers, beginning with the Portuguese in the 15th century, vied for trading rights, with the British eventually establishing control by the 19th century. Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence on March 6, 1957, and under President Kwame Nkrumah, it played a significant role in decolonization and the Pan-African movement. Ghana is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, with Christians forming the majority, followed by Muslims and adherents of traditional faiths. It operates as a unitary constitutional democracy led by a president. Ghana is recognized for its political stability, ranking high in governance indices, and has maintained a stable government since 1993, performing well in healthcare, economic growth, and human development. The nation holds considerable influence in West Africa and Africa as a whole, and is actively involved in international affairs as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Union, among other organizations. Recently, Ghana, along with Ivory Coast, has experienced a significant cocoa supply collapse due to an El Niño weather event that exacerbated the spread of Black Pod Disease, leading to a massive price spike in cocoa.

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    Ghana

    Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated with the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east. Ghana covers an area of 239,567 km2 (92,497 sq mi), spanning diverse ecologies, from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With over 35 million inhabitants, Ghana is the thirteenth-most populous country in Africa, and the second-most populous country in West Africa specifically. The capital and largest city is Accra. The earliest kingdoms to emerge in Ghana were Bonoman in the south and the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north, with Bonoman existing in the area during the 11th century. The Asante Empire and other Akan kingdoms in the south emerged over the centuries. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese Empire, followed by other European powers, contested the area for trading rights, until the British ultimately established control of the coast by the 19th century. Following more than a century of colonial resistance, the current borders of the country took shape, encompassing four separate British colonial territories: Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland. These were unified as an independent dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations. On 6 March 1957 Ghana became the first colony in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty. Under President Kwame Nkrumah, it became influential in decolonisation efforts and the Pan-African movement. Ghana is a multi-ethnic country with diverse linguistic and religious groups; while the Akan are the largest ethnic group, they constitute a plurality. Most Ghanaians are Christians (71.3%); almost a fifth are Muslims; a tenth practise traditional faiths or report no religion. Ghana is a unitary constitutional democracy led by a president who is head of state and head of government. For political stability in Africa, Ghana ranked seventh in the 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance and fifth in the 2024 Fragile States Index. Since 1993, it has maintained one of the freest and most stable governments on the continent, and performs relatively well in healthcare, economic growth, and human development. It has a significant influence in West Africa and Africa as a whole. Ghana is highly integrated in international affairs, being a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Union, and a member of the United Nations, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Economic Community of West African States, the Group of 24 and the Commonwealth of Nations.

    Web Search Results
    • Ghana

      Ghana, officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is situated with the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and shares borders with Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east. Ghana covers an area of 239,567 km2 (92,497 sq mi), spanning diverse ecologies, from coastal savannas to tropical rainforests. With over 35 million inhabitants, Ghana is the thirteenth-most populous country in Africa, and the second-most populous [...] Ghana lies on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, a few degrees north of the Equator. It covers 238,540 km2 (92,101 sq mi) and has an Atlantic coastline of about 560 kilometres (350 miles). It is situated between latitudes 4°45′N and 11°N, and longitudes 1°15′E and 3°15′W. The Prime Meridian passes through Tema, near Accra, making Ghana the country closest to the intersection of the Prime Meridian and the Equator (0°, 0°), located offshore in the Atlantic. [...] Ghana is a unitary presidential constitutional democracy with a parliamentary multi-party system that is dominated by two parties—the National Democratic Congress (NDC) "National Democratic Congress (Ghana)") and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ghana alternated between civilian and military governments until January 1993, when the military government gave way to the Fourth Republic of Ghana after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The 1992 constitution of Ghana divides powers

    • Ghana | Religion, Capital, Maps, Language, ... - Britannica

      Ghana, country of western Africa, situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Although relatively small in area and population, Ghana is one of the leading countries of Africa, partly because of its considerable natural wealth and partly because it was the first black African country south of the Sahara to achieve independence from colonial rule. [...] Ghana has three major geographic regions: coastal, forest, and northern savanna. The coastal zone is known for fishing and small-scale farming, the forest region for agriculture and traditional states, and the northern savanna for its harsh environment and livestock breeding. ### How did Ghana achieve independence? [...] Modern-day Ghana, which gained its independence on March 6, 1957, consists primarily of the former Gold Coast. The colony’s drive for independence was led by nationalist and Pan-African leader Kwame Nkrumah, who viewed Ghana’s sovereignty as being important not only for the Ghanaian people but for all of Africa, saying “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” Indeed, more than 30 other African countries, spurred by Ghana’s

    • Ghana Culture & Traditions: What to know

      Inhabited for at least several thousand years, Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in both history and natural beauty. Sandwiched between Togo and Cote d’Ivoire on the Gulf of Guinea, it is also one of West Africa’s most stable and democratic states. The tropical, mostly lowland nation is just a few degrees north of the equator and slightly smaller than Oregon, covering a total of more than 239,000 sq-km (92,278 sq-mi). Its population of nearly 35 million people makes it the second most [...] ### What is Ghana best known for? Ghana is the seat of Ashanti culture, known for its bright fabrics and exquisite woodworking. The once-dominant Ashanti Empire was a trading and military powerhouse in this part of West Africa from the 18th century well into the 20th. The modern-day Ashanti king still lives in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, where two museums—the Manhyia Palace Museum and Prempeh II Jubilee Museum—house an array of important Ashanti artifacts. [...] Ghana is a generally conservative society, so it’s advisable to behave discreetly and to dress modestly in most situations, especially in or around places of worship (the majority of Ghanaians are Christians, while Muslims make up a sizeable minority). Dressing conservatively, however, doesn’t mean foregoing colour, as many Ghanaians wear kente cloth, a vibrantly patterned textile that dates to the bygone Ashanti Empire. One type of attire that should be avoided is military clothing or clothing

    • Ghana Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

      Ghana is located in West Africa and is sandwiched between Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Togo. The northern border is the country Burkina Faso and the southern border is the Gulf of Guinea. The country is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. The landscape consists mainly of plains and low plateaus covered by rain forests in the west and Lake Volta in the east. Map created by National Geographic Maps ### PEOPLE & CULTURE [...] Ghana is located in West Africa and is sandwiched between Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Togo. ### GEOGRAPHY Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    • Ghana : Tourism Insights

      AA: Ghana is a rich mixture of history, culture, and hospitality. It is like a buffet, offering visitors a wide array of choices to suit their preferences. Visitors today can explore our historic slave trade forts, vibrant markets, and stunning landscapes. [...] What defines Ghana is its people – warm, welcoming, and proud of their heritage – and our ability to offer immersive experiences that connect visitors with our culture. The ‘Year of Return’ in 2019 saw a significant increase in tourism with over 1.1 million visitors, highlighting the global African diaspora’s interest in reconnecting with their heritage. How do you market and promote Ghana’s various travel offerings to both domestic and international tourists?

    Location Data

    Ghana

    administrative

    Coordinates: 8.0300284, -1.0800271

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