Research Library: Ghana
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Last Updated Jun 16, 2008
Country Information
Government
- Ghana functions on a constitutional democracy with a president as both chief of state and head of government. The president and vice president are both elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term). There is also a unicameral Parliament with 230 seats. Members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms.
- President John Agyekum Kufuor won a second term in December 2004. He is known as the ¿gentle giant¿ for making economic growth a priority, and originally came to power during Ghana¿s first peaceful transfer of power from one elected government to the next. Kufuor has also been praised for taking mediating roles in regional conflicts, including those in Liberia and Ivory Coast.
Political Stability
- In 1957, Ghana became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to achieve independence. A period of long, drawn-out coups followed until Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution, as well as restoring multiparty politics, in 1992, Rawlings continued to win elections until 2000 (when he was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term).
- Current president John Kufuor followed Rawlings in 2001 and was re-elected in 2004. Since this peaceful transfer of power, Ghana has been politically stable.
Current Government Policies
- At present, the government is primarily concerned with following its current Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy, which includes: macroeconomic stability, private sector competitiveness, human resource development, and good governance/ civic responsibility.
International Reputation
- Ghana is an active member of the UN and many of its specialized agencies, as well as the WTO, the Nonaligned Movement, the African Union, and ECOWAS. Ghana also plays an active role in subregional affairs, notably in Rwanda and Liberia. Other peacekeeping initiatives that Ghana has been extremely involved with include UN auspices in Lebanon, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Pakistan.
Economics
- Post-independence, Ghana has had economic troubles. However, over the last 20 years, stability and growth have drastically increased. Real GDP growth has averaged 4% since the 1980s and was around 6% from 2004-2006. In 2002, Ghana opted for debt relief under the HIPC program.
- Ghana is very well-endowed with natural resources, and has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Despite this, Ghana remains dependent upon international financial and technical assistance. The domestic economy revolves around agriculture, accounting for about 35% of GDP and 55% of the workforce. Exports include gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese, ore, and diamonds.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
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