Ghana, officially known as the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is situated between Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Togo. The northern border is shared with Burkina Faso, while the southern border faces the Gulf of Guinea. Ghana is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon in the United States.
Geography and Nature
The landscape of Ghana mainly consists of plains and low plateaus. These are covered by rain forests in the west and Lake Volta in the east. The Volta River was dammed in the 1960s, creating Lake Volta, which is one of the Earth’s largest artificial lakes.
Ghana boasts six national parks and numerous smaller nature reserves. These protected areas play a crucial role in conserving Ghana’s diverse wildlife. Kakum National Park alone is home to over 650 butterfly species, including the giant swallowtails, which can measure nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) across. The park also shelters leopards, hornbills, Diana monkeys, flying squirrels, and scarlet-tailed African gray parrots.
Elephants, leopards, wild buffalo, and antelope were once abundant across the savanna. Now, they are mostly found in nature reserves. In Mole National Park, elephants, crocodiles, warthogs, and hippos can be observed around the watering holes. Poisonous snakes, such as the cobra and puff adder, are native to Ghana, as are pythons. Pythons do not bite but can squeeze their victims.
GHANA Wildlife Documentary 🦁🌍 | Untamed Beauty in 4K UHD
The baobab tree thrives in the northern parts of Ghana and other savannas in Africa. Ghanaians utilize the large, gourd-like fruit for food. They also use the trunk to make barrels. The tree provides shade, and its bark can be made into rope and clothing.
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People and Culture
Ghana is home to over 50 different ethnic groups, each with its own customs and languages. Despite this diversity, the country maintains a harmonious and peaceful environment. The Akan tribe is the largest group, comprising about 45 percent of the population. They primarily live in villages and cultivate their food on farms.
Children in Ghana begin two years of kindergarten at age four. All children ages 6-12 attend six years of elementary education. If families can afford it, children go on to secondary education. Ghana’s school system is more advanced than many of its African neighbors.
The traditional cloth of the Ghanaian people is the bright and colorful kente cloth. In the north, the men wear loose flowing clothes made of darker cloth.
Ghanaians are passionate about soccer. They built a large soccer stadium in the capital of Accra, as soccer is the national sport.
Kofi Annan is one of the most well-known Ghanaians. He served as secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997-2006.
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Government
The president is both the head of government and the head of state in Ghana. The president and vice president are elected every four years. A council of ministers is selected by the president and approved by the parliament. These ministers head different departments of state within the government.
In addition to the national government, there is also a system of tribal government.
History
Before the arrival of Europeans in search of gold, the west coast of Africa was part of an ancient trade route. In 1471, Portuguese traders landed and noticed that the local people wore gold jewelry.
People from Portugal, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and Britain came to the Gold Coast to search for gold. The British took control of the country in the 20th century and declared the Gold Coast a colony of the British Empire.
In 1957, the Gold Coast gained its independence from Britain and became known as Ghana. After many corrupt governments, Ghana’s new leader in 1981, Jerry Rawlings, vowed to stop corruption.
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Evolution of Regions
The regions of Ghana represent the first level of subnational government administration within the Republic of Ghana. At independence in March 1957, the Northern Territories, Ashanti, Trans-Volta Togoland, and the Gold Coast united to form Ghana. Initially, there were five regions.
On April 4, 1959, the Ashanti Region was split into the Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions due to the Brong Ahafo Region Act No. During the Second Republic, the Western Region was divided into the Western and Central regions, resulting in a total of eight regions. This division occurred before the 1970 census.
The Provisional National Defence Council, the military government in power between 1981 and 1993, enacted the Greater Accra Law (PNDCL 26) on July 23, 1982, creating the Greater Accra Region. The new region comprised the Accra Capital District and the Ada Local Council, which were separated from the Eastern Region.
Fishermen in Ghana use small boats called pirogues.
| Year | Event | Number of Regions |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Independence | 5 |
| 1959 | Ashanti Region split into Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo | 6 |
| 1970 | Western Region split into Western and Central regions | 8 |
| 1982 | Creation of Greater Accra Region | 10 |
| 2018 | Creation of new regions | 16 |
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