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Africa :: Ghana

- ## Introduction :: 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 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.

- ## Geography :: GHANA

- 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: 82
  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 1,098 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 extremes:
  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%
  arable land 20.7%; permanent crops 11.9%; permanent pasture 36.5%
  forest: 21.2%
  other: 9.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  309 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  53.2 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%)
  per capita: 48.82 cu m/yr (2000)
  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 threatens 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)

- ## People and Society :: GHANA

- 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%
  note: English is the official language (2010 est.)
  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.)
  Population:
  26,327,649
  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 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 38.38% (male 5,076,131/female 5,027,960)
  15-24 years: 18.69% (male 2,449,026/female 2,472,756)
  25-54 years: 33.95% (male 4,338,197/female 4,598,796)
  55-64 years: 4.84% (male 619,516/female 654,720)
  65 years and over: 4.14% (male 505,056/female 585,491) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 73%
  youth dependency ratio: 67.2%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.9%
  potential support ratio: 17% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 20.9 years
  male: 20.5 years
  female: 21.4 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.18% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Birth rate:
  31.09 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Death rate:
  7.22 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Net migration rate:
  -2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 54% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  Kumasi 2.599 million; ACCRA (capital) 2.277 million (2015)
  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: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 37.37 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 41.39 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 33.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 66.18 years
  male: 63.76 years
  female: 68.66 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Total fertility rate:
  4.06 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  19.5% (2013)
  Health expenditures:
  5.4% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Physicians density:
  0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 20.2% of population
  rural: 8.6% of population
  total: 14.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 79.8% of population
  rural: 91.4% of population
  total: 85.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.47% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 34
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  250,200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  9,200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis
  respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
  animal contact disease: rabies
  note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  10.9% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  13.4% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Education expenditures:
  8.1% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 76.6%
  male: 82%
  female: 71.4% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 12 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 11 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 1,806,750
  percentage: 34% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: GHANA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
  conventional short form: Ghana
  former: Gold Coast
  Government type:
  constitutional democracy
  Capital:
  name: Accra
  geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
  time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
  Independence:
  6 March 1957 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993; amended 1996 (2012)
  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
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012); note - President MAHAMA assumed the presidency after the death of President John Atta MILLS and subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election; the president is both chief of state and head of government
  head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012)
  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 8 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016)
  election results: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president; percent of vote - John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 50.7%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 47.7%, other 1.6%
  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 - 8 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 47.5%, NDC 46.4%, PNC 0.6%, independent 2.5%, other 3.0%; seats by party - NDC 150, NPP 120, PNC 1, independent 3, other 1
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a 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:
  Convention People's Party or CPP [Samia NKRUMAH]
  National Democratic Congress or NDC [John Dramani MAHAMA]
  New Patriotic Party or NPP [Paul AFOKO]
  People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN]
  note: listed are four of the more popular political parties as of December 2012; there are more than 20 registered parties
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Christian Aid (water rights)
  Committee for Joint Action or CJA (social and economic issues)
  National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights)
  Oxfam (water rights)
  Public Citizen (water rights)
  Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform)
  Third World Network (social and economic issues)
  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 Martha Ama Akyaa POBEE (since 31 July 2015)
  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 Gene A. CRETZ (since 11 September 2012)
  embassy: 24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra
  mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
  telephone: [233] 30-2741-000
  FAX: [233] 30-2741-389
  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 :: GHANA

- Economy - overview:
  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. Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region. Ghana is well-endowed with natural resources. Agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. The services sector accounts for about half of GDP. Gold 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 recent oil price crash has reduced by half Ghana’s 2015 anticipated oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's offshore oil field, began in mid-December 2010 and currently produces roughly 110,000 barrels per day. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atubao is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants. As of 2015, the biggest single economic issue is the lack of consistent electricity. While the MAHAMA administration is taking steps to improve the situation, it will be the third or fourth quarter of 2015 before any relief is visible. 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 will require Ghana to reduce the fiscal deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, and increasing revenues. The challenge for Ghana will come as the MAHAMA Administration approaches the 2016 election cycle facing public dissatisfaction in the midst of economic austerity.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $108.3 billion (2014 est.)
  $103.9 billion (2013 est.)
  $96.84 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 80
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $38.65 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  4.2% (2014 est.)
  7.3% (2013 est.)
  8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $4,100 (2014 est.)
  $4,000 (2013 est.)
  $3,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Gross national saving:
  15.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  14.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
  16.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 61.3%
  government consumption: 17.7%
  investment in fixed capital: 23.6%
  investment in inventories: 1.4%
  exports of goods and services: 42.1%
  imports of goods and services: -46.2%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 22%
  industry: 28.4%
  services: 49.6% (2014 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:
  1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Labor force:
  11.25 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 44.7%
  industry: 14.4%
  services: 40.9% (2013 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  5.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Budget:
  revenues: $8.226 billion
  expenditures: $11.63 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  23.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -9.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 200
  Public debt:
  72.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  55.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  17% (2014 est.)
  13.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  Central bank discount rate:
  21% (31 December 2014)
  16% (31 December 2013)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  30% (31 December 2014 est.)
  25.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Stock of narrow money:
  $5.119 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.232 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Stock of broad money:
  $10.82 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $12.65 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $13.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $15.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $3.465 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  $3.097 billion (31 December 2011)
  $3.531 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Current account balance:
  -$3.331 billion (2014 est.)
  -$5.704 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Exports:
  $13.22 billion (2014 est.)
  $13.75 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Exports - commodities:
  oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products
  Exports - partners:
  China 10.7%, France 9%, Netherlands 7.3%, India 7.3%, South Africa 6.6%, Italy 6.5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $14.57 billion (2014 est.)
  $17.6 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 88
  Imports - commodities:
  capital equipment, refined petroleum, foodstuffs
  Imports - partners:
  China 25.5%, Nigeria 13.1%, Netherlands 8.2%, Cote dIvoire 7.2%, US 6.9%, India 4.1% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $5.461 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $5.632 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Debt - external:
  $12.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $11.46 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $19.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  $11.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $16.62 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  $109 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  Exchange rates:
  cedis (GHC) per US dollar -
  2.881 (2014 est.)
  1.98 (2013 est.)
  1.8 (2012 est.)
  1.512 (2011 est.)
  1.431 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: GHANA

- Electricity - production:
  12.87 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Electricity - consumption:
  10.58 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Electricity - exports:
  122 million kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Electricity - imports:
  27 million kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  2.847 million kW (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  45% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  54% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Crude oil - production:
  110,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Crude oil - imports:
  32,060 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  660 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  22,130 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  66,570 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  9,977 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  37,240 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Natural gas - consumption:
  615 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Natural gas - imports:
  615 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  9.098 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106

- ## Communications :: GHANA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 260,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 30.4 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra
  domestic: competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 80 per 100 persons and rising
  international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, Main One, and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2009)
  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 (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 0, FM 86, shortwave 3 (2007)
  Television broadcast stations:
  7 (2007)
  Internet country code:
  .gh
  Internet users:
  total: 5 million
  percent of population: 19.6% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68

- ## Transportation :: GHANA

- Airports:
  10 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  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 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 394 km; oil 20 km; refined products 361 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 947 km
  narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Roadways:
  total: 109,515 km
  paved: 13,787 km
  unpaved: 95,728 km (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  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: 4
  by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
  foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema

- ## Military :: GHANA

- Military branches:
  Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force (2012)
  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)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,268,191
  females age 16-49: 6,194,339 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 4,136,406
  females age 16-49: 4,220,761 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 267,896
  female: 260,992 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  0.56% of GDP (2014)
  0.61% of GDP (2013)
  0.27% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 125

- ## Transnational Issues :: GHANA

- Disputes - international:
  disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 9,779 (Cote d'Ivoire; flight from 2010 post-election fighting); 5,262 (Liberia) (2014)
  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

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