External Websites

News Today in Ghana BBC's Profile of Ghana Tourist Board of Ghana Lonely Planet's Guide to Ghana Ghanaian Football Association

Youth Alive is not responsible for the content of any external websites

Quick facts about Ghana

* Full name: Republic of Ghana

* Population: 23.5 million (UN, 2007)

* Capital: Accra

* Area: 238,533 sq km (92,098 sq miles)

* Major languages: English, African languages including Akan, Ewe

* Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam

* Life expectancy: 60 years (men), 60 years (women) (UN)

* Monetary unit: Cedi

* Main exports: Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds.

* GNI per capita: US $450 (World Bank, 2006)

* Internet domain: .gh

* International dialling code: +233

Learn About Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders Cote d'Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The word "Ghana" means "Warrior King", and was the source of the name "Guinea" (via French Guinoye) used to refer to the West African coast (as in Gulf of Guinea).


Map of Ghana











Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient kingdoms, including the Ga Adangbes on the eastern coast, inland Empire of Ashanti and various Fante states along the coast and inland. Trade with European states flourished after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British established a crown colony, Gold Coast, in 1874. Upon achieving independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana that once extended throughout much of western Africa. In the Ashanti language it is spelled Gaana.