Ghana was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade – first in gold, later in slaves.
It was also the first black African nation in the region to achieve independence from a colonial power, in this instance Britain.
Despite being rich in mineral resources, and endowed with a good education system and efficient civil service, Ghana fell victim to corruption and mismanagement soon after independence in 1957.
In 1966 its first president and pan-African hero, Kwame Nkrumah, was deposed in a coup, heralding years of mostly-military rule. In 1981 Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings staged his second coup. The country began to move towards economic stability and democracy.
Elmina Castle, an important centre of the slave trade
In April 1992 a constitution allowing for a multi-party system was approved in a referendum, ushering in a period of democracy.
A well-administered country by regional standards, Ghana is often seen as a model for political and economic reform in Africa.
Cocoa exports are an essential part of the economy; Ghana is the world’s second-largest producer.
Politics: Ghana is one of the more stable nations in the region, with a good record of power changing hands peacefully
Economy: Ghana is the world’s second largest cocoa producer behind Ivory Coast, and Africa’s biggest gold miner after South Africa. It is one of the continent’s fastest growing economies, and newest oil producer
The discovery of major offshore oil reserves was announced in June 2007, encouraging expectations of a major economic boost.
Production officially began at the end of 2010, but some analysts expressed concern over the country’s ability to manage its new industry, as laws governing the oil sector had not yet been passed.
In July 2009, Ghana secured a 600 million dollar three-year loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amid concerns about the impact of the global recession on poorer countries. The IMF said the Ghanaian economy had proved to be relatively resilient because of the high prices of cocoa and gold.
Ghana has a high-profile peacekeeping role; troops have been deployed in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and DR Congo.
Although Ghana has largely escaped the civil strife that has plagued other West African countries, in 1994-95 land disputes in the north erupted into ethnic violence, resulting in the deaths of 1,000 people and the displacement of a further 150,000.
Facts
Full name: Republic of Ghana
Population: 25 million (UN, 2011)
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: 64years (men), 66 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: Cedi
Main exports: Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds
GNI per capita: US $1,410 (World Bank, 2011)
Internet domain: .gh
International dialling code: +233
Media
Ghana enjoys a high degree of media freedom and the private press and broadcasters operate without significant restrictions.
The media are free to criticise the authorities without fear of reprisals, says Reporters Without Borders.
The private press is lively, and often carries criticism of government policy. Animated phone-in programmes are staple fare on many radio stations.
Radio is Ghana’s most popular medium, although it is being challenged by increased access to TV.
Scores of private FM stations crowd the dial; many of them are based in the main towns and cities. Most of them are chasing a limited amount of advertising revenue. State-run Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) runs national TV and radio networks.
The BBC broadcasts on 101.3 FM in Accra, and on 104.7 FM from Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of Western Region.
There were nearly 2.1 million internet users by December 2011 (Internetworldstats.com). Mobile phones are widely used to access news.
Media Houses in Ghana
Ghana has one of the most free media in Africa and a vibrant press
Ghana enjoys a high degree of media freedom and the private press and broadcasters operate without significant restrictions.
The media are free to criticise the authorities without fear of reprisals, says Reporters Without Borders.
The private press is lively, and often carries criticism of government policy. Animated phone-in programmes are staple fare on many radio stations.
Radio is Ghana’s most popular medium, although it is being challenged by increased access to TV.
Scores of private FM stations crowd the dial; many of them are based in the main towns and cities. Most of them are chasing a limited amount of advertising revenue. State-run Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) runs national TV and radio networks.
The BBC broadcasts on 101.3 FM in Accra, and on 104.7 FM from Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of Western Region.
There were nearly 2.1 million internet users by December 2011 (Internetworldstats.com). Mobile phones are widely used to access news.
Press
The Ghanaian Chronicle – private daily
Daily Graphic – state-owned
Daily Guide – private
The Ghanaian Times – state-owned daily
The Mirror – weekly, sister paper of the Daily Graphic
The Herald – weekly
Television
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) – state-run, operates Ghana TV (GTV) and digital networks, including news channel GBC 24
Metro TV – jointly owned by government and private company
TV3 – private
Viasat1 – private
Radio
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) – state-run, operates Radio 1 in English and Ghanaian vernaculars, commercial service Radio 2 and local services including Accra’s Uniiq FM
Adom FM – private
Peace FM – private
Joy FM – private
Choice FM – private
Space FM – private
Gold FM – private
Happy FM – private
News agency/internet
Ghana News Agency – state-run
GhanaWeb – news/information portal
25 July 2012 Last updated at 06:48 GMT Share this pageEmailPrint
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Ghana profile
Overview
Facts
Leaders
Media
Timeline
A chronology of key events:
1482 – Portuguese set up trading settlement.
Continue reading the main story
Kwame Nkrumah
Independence leader was an advocate of Pan-Africanism
1874 – British proclaim coastal area a crown colony.
1925 – First legislative council elections take place.
1957 March – Ghana becomes independent with Kwame Nkrumah as prime minister.
1960 – Ghana proclaimed a republic; Nkrumah elected president.
1964 – Ghana becomes a one-party state.
1966 – Nkrumah overthrown in military coup; Russian and Chinese technicians expelled.
1969 – New constitution facilitates transfer of power to civilian government led by Kofi Busia.
1972 – Busia ousted in military coup led by Colonel Ignatius Acheampong.
Continue reading the main story
Fallen hero
Kwame Nkrumah’s toppled statue symbolised his leadership of Ghana
Leader’s vision for Africa
1978 – Acheampong forced to resign; General Frederick Akuffo takes over.
Rawlings era
1979 – Akuffo deposed in coup led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings. Acheampong and Akuffo executed.
1979 September – Rawlings hands over power to an elected president, Hilla Limann.
1981 – Limann ousted in military coup led by Rawlings after two years of weak government and economic stagnation.
1983 – Rawlings adopts conservative economic policies, abolishing subsidies and price controls, privatising many state enterprises and devaluing the currency.
1992 – Referendum approves new constitution introducing a multiparty system. Rawlings elected president.
1994 – One thousand people are killed and a further 150,000 are displaced in the Northern Region following ethnic clashes between the Konkomba and the Nanumba over land ownership.
Jerry Rawlings, r, seen with US President Bill Clinton, came to power in a coup but won subsequent elections
1994 June – Seven ethnic groups involved in violence in Northern Region sign peace agreement.
1995 – Government imposes curfew in Northern Region as renewed ethnic violence results in a further 100 deaths.
1996 – Jerry Rawlings re-elected president.
Kufuor elected
2000 – December – John Kufuor beats Vice-President John Atta Mills in the presidential election.
2001 February – Petrol prices rise by 60% following the government’s decision to remove fuel subsidies.
2001 April – Ghana accepts debt relief under a scheme designed by the World Bank and the IMF.
2001 May – National day of mourning after football stadium stampede leaves 126 dead. Inquiry blames police for overreacting to crowd trouble.
2001 June – Government scraps public holiday celebrating Rawling’s military coup in an effort to wipe out the legacy of his rule.
2001 June – Floods hit Accra, causing 10 deaths and forcing 100,000 to flee their homes.
2002 April – State of emergency is declared in the north after a tribal chief and more than 30 others are killed in clan violence. State of emergency is lifted in August 2004.
2002 May – President Kufuor inaugurates reconciliation commission to look into human rights violations during military rule.
2003 October – Government approves merger of two gold-mining firms, creating new gold-mining giant.
2004 February – Former President Jerry Rawlings testifies at commission investigating human rights offences during the early years of his rule.
2004 October – Group of current and former military personnel detained on suspicion of planning to destabilise government ahead of elections.
2004 December – Presidential poll: Incumbent John Kufuor wins a second term.
2005 April-May – Thousands of Togolese refugees arrive, fleeing political violence in their home country.
2006 April – A boat capsizes on Lake Volta reservoir; more than 100 passengers are feared drowned.
2006 June – Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promises to lend Ghana about $66m to fund development projects. He is on an African tour aimed at opening new export markets for China’s booming economy and at securing energy and mineral supplies.
2007 March – Ghana celebrates 50 years of independence from Britain.
Oil discovered
2007 June – Major off-shore oil discovery announced. President Kufuor says oil will turn Ghana into an “African tiger”.
2007 September – The worst floods for more than 30 years cause widespread devastation, destroying much of the annual harvest.
2007 December – President Kufuor says off-shore oil reserves total 3 billion barrels.
2008 December – John Atta Mills elected president.
2009 July – US President Barack Obama visits.
Ghana secures a $600m three-year loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
President Mills ceremonially launches Ghana’s oil production
2009 October – Controversy over sale of national communications network Ghana Telecom, allegedly for less that it was worth.
2010 December – Offshore oil production begins.
2011 July – President John Atta Mills chosen as ruling National Democratic Congress party’s candidate for the 2012 presidential election, defeating Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, wife of former President Jerry Rawlings.
2011 August – UK-based oil exploration company Tullow Oil, says it will spend at least $4bn to develop oil fields off the coast of Ghana.
2012 June – Thousands are displaced by communal violence in the east, sparked by the exhumation of the body of a Muslim cleric.
2012 July – President Mills dies.
Via BBC.co.uk
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