Ghana was known as the “Gold Coast” until it gained independence from British colonial authority on March 6, 1957, a term given to it by early Portuguese explorers who first set foot on the country’s shores in the fourteenth century.

The name accurately depicts the country’s gold and natural resource wealth, which includes the following to this day:

1. Rich mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, manganese, bauxite, iron ore and various clay and salt deposits.
2. Extensive, rich forests with a wide range of fine tropical hardwoods.
3. A wide variety of agricultural products and rich fishing resources.
4. Unique tourist attractions, including beautiful landscapes, inviting sunshine, golden beaches, wildlife parks, the countryside with its rich cultural heritage and the proverbial warmth and hospitality of the people.

The monarchs of several European nations, particularly Denmark, England, Holland, Prussia, and Sweden, sent hordes of explores and merchants to the country for its enormous natural and human resources from the time the Portuguese discovered gold in 1471 till independence in 1957.

They built forts and castles that doubled as trading centers in order to gain power and control over the area. Ghana holds 29 of the 32 European colonial forts and castles strewn over the West African coast, demonstrating the country’s depth of European colonial presence and concentration of activity.

LOCATION

Ghana is located on the West Coast of Africa about 750km north of the equator on the Gulf of Guinea, between the latitudes of 4 – 11.5º North. The capital, Accra, is on the Greenwich Meridian [zero line of longitude] The country has a total land area of 238,537 Km² and is bounded on the north by Burkina Faso, on the West by Cote d’Ivoire, on the East by Togo and on the South by the Gulf of Guinea. The land area stretches for 672 Km north-south and 536 Km east-west.

CLIMATE

Ghana has a tropical climate, characterized most of the year by moderate temperatures generally 21°C to 33°C (70°F – 90°F), constant breeze and sunshine. There are two rainy seasons, from March to July and September to October, separated by a short cool dry season in August and a relatively long dry season in the South from mid-October to March.

POPULATION

The population of Ghana was estimated to be 30.8million as at September 2021 (source; Ghana Statistical service, 2021 estimate) currently, the country’s population is growing by 2.15 per cent annually. The de facto population in Ghana on Census Night was 30,792,608 made up of 15,610,149 females and 15,182,459 males. Overall, females make up 50.7% of the population and males 49.3%.

THE PEOPLE

Ghana’s principal ethnic groups are the Akan the Guans, Ewes, Gas, Gonjas, Dagabas, Walas and Frafras. There are 56 Ghanaian dialects of which Akwapim Twi, Asante Twi, Fante, Ga-Adangbe, Ewe, Kasem Gonja, Dagbani and Nzema are the major languages. The official language of the country is English. French and Hausa are two major foreign languages spoken in the country.

RELIGION

The population of Ghana comprises 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%. There is complete freedom of religion in Ghana.

GOVERNMENT

Ghana’s system of governance is based on a multiparty constitutional democracy founded on elections by open and free universal adult suffrage. All Ghanaians above 18 years of age are eligible to vote in local and national elections. The minimum age qualification for the office of President is 40 and a candidate is elected for maximum of two four-year terms.

Members of the 275-member Parliament is also elected for unlimited four-year terms. The main arms of Government are the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Ghana runs a hybrid system of Government in which there is an executive President while majority of Ministers of State MUST be chosen from Parliament. Ghana is a nation governed by the Rule of Law.

EXECUTIVE

The President is the Head of State and Head of Government with whom Executive powers are vested. There exists by constitutional provision, a Council of State that advises the President. The Council membership is by both election and appointment. The President or the Vice President chairs meetings of the Cabinet. Also, by constitutional provision, a majority of Cabinet Members must be appointed from among Members of Parliament.

By constitutional provision, in the absence of the President, the Vice President acts in his stead and in the absence of both the President and the Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Parliament takes over the mantle of State.

LEGISLATURE

The current Parliament is the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. Parliament is presided over by a Speaker elected by Parliament but not a Member of Parliament. The Speaker is assisted in the discharge of his duties by a First Deputy Speaker and a Second Deputy Speaker, who are both members of the House. In the current Parliament, the First Deputy Speaker is a member of the ruling party while the Second Deputy Speaker is an Independent Parliamentarian. The minimum age qualification for a Member of Parliament is 21.

JUDICIARY

Civil law in Ghana is based on the English Common Law doctrine of equity and general statutes. Ghanaian customary law is however the basis of most personal, domestic, and contractual relationships. Criminal law is based on the 1960 Criminal Procedure Code, derived from amended English Criminal Law.

The Superior Court of Judicature comprises the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Regional Tribunals, and Inferior Courts, which include Circuit Courts, Circuit Tribunals, Community Tribunals and such other Courts as may be designated by law.

To speed up trials, automation has been introduced in High Courts and such courts are commonly referred to as Fast Track Courts. The Supreme Court is made up of the Chief Justice and no fewer than nine other justices. It is the final court of appeal in Ghana and has jurisdiction in matters relating to enforcement and interpretation of the Constitution.