FACTFILE Official Name: Local Time: Population: Land Area: Coast Line: Religion: Official Language: Currency: Emergency Lines:

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2 FACTFILE Official Name: Republic of Ghana Local Time: GMT Population: 25.9 million (2013) Land Area: 238,837 sq km (92,100 sq miles) Coast Line: 540km: Natural Resources: Gold, Diamond, Bauxite, Manganese, Timber, Cocoa and Crude Oil Religion: Mostly Christian, Moslem and Traditional religions also exist Official Language: English with over 70 different languages spoken Currency: GH Cedi Emergency Lines: Police-191/18555, Fire Service-192, Ambulance- 193 Capital City: Accra Government: Constitutional Democracy President: His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo

3 OVERVIEW The Republic of Ghana extends inland from the Gulf of Guinea on the western bulge of Africa, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Togo to the east, Burkina Faso to the north and La Cote d Ivoire to the west. With a surface area of 238,837sq km, it is similar in size to Great Britain or the American state of Oregon. It is bisected by the Greenwich Meridian and lies entirely within the northern tropics between 4.50N and 110. Most of the country is relatively flat and lies below an altitude of 150m but several peaks in the east rise to above 800m. It has a tropical climate, warm to hot all year through, and can be divided into two broad geographic zones: the south and centre are moist and support a cover of a direr savannah environment.

4 TUMU LAWRA LAWRA NADAWLI Ghana Map Up p er West Y WA DAMONGO BOLE BAWKU NAVRONGO BONGO ZEB ILLA Y SANDEMA BOLGATANGA Up p er Ea st Nor t h er n GAM BAGA WALEW ALE GUSHIEGU SAVELUGU TOLON TAMALE YENDI Y SABOBA ZAB ZUGU Naana MINISTRY OF HEALTH, GHANA BIMB ILA SALAGA NKWANTA KINTAMPO Br on g Ah a fo WENCHI ATE BUBU KWAME DA NSO KETE-KRA CHI W N S E TECHIMAN DROBO NKORA NZA BEREK UM Y SUNYANI DORMA A A HENKRO JUABE SO ENCHI HALF ASSINI HOHOE BECHEM DONKORKROM TEP A KENYAS E NO. 1 OFINSO KPANDU AGONA AKROFOSO MANKRANS O EFFIDUASE GOASO MAMPONTENG KUMASI Y EJISU NKAWIE KONONGO-ODUMASE MAMPONG ASHANTI JUASO MPRAES O Y HO KUNTE NASE MANSO NKWANTA BIB IANI BEKWAI BEGORO NEW ABIREM Vol t a ATIMPOKU SEFWI W IAW SO East er n OBUASI KIB I KOFORIDUA KADE NEW EDUBIASE Y ODUMA SE KROBO AKATSI SOM ANYA ADIDOME SUHUM SOGAK OP E DUNKWA- ON-OFIN AKROPONG AKW APIM AKIM ODA ASAMANKESE DODOWA ASANK RAGUA NSAWA M Cen t r a l ADA FOAH ASSIN FOS U AMASAMAN TW IFO PRASO TEM A M UNICIP AL AREA BREMAN ASIKUMA AGONA SWEDRU ACCRA West er n AXIM TARKWA DABOASE EJURA Ash an t i SALTPOND Y CAPE COAST ELMINA Y SEKONDI/ TAKORADI AGONA NKWA NTA AJUMA KO ABURA DUNKWA Kilometers WINNE BA APAM Prepared by Alexander Boakye Marful, July 2005 Y KADJE BI JASIKAN Gr eat er Accr a DENU Ghana boundary Y Regional Capital District Capital Water body Regions Ashanti Brong Ahafo Central Eastern Greater Accra Northern Upper East Upper West Volta W estern

5 THE PEOPLE Ghana s population is estimated at 24million, roughly 12% of whom live in and around the capital city of Accra. Other major urban centres include Kumasi, Tamale, Tema, Takoradi and Cape Coast. More than 70 languages and major dialects are spoken countrywide, classified in four linguistic groups: Akan, Mole- Dagbani, Ewe and Ga. The most widespread Akan language is Twi, which is spoken by roughly half the population, including the Asante (Ashanti) people of Kumasi and the coastal Fante. Two-thirds of Ghanaians are Christian, another 15% are Islamic, and the remaining adhere to traditional animist beliefs.

6 ETIQUETTE S IN GHANA (DO S AND DON T S) DO develop an understanding of how religion and indigenous beliefs influence the Ghanaian working practices. DO take time to ask questions about the health and/or the family of your business partner. It is seen as rude to get down to business right away. DO address your Ghanaian counterpart with their academic title as it is used to show respect.

7 DON T be late for business meetings as this can be seen as rude however do not expect your Ghanaian business partner to be on time. DON T sit down before your older counterparts have sat down. You are expected to offer them a seat. DON T refuse an invitation for a dinner at someone s home. Ghanaians love to have guests in their home and turning down an invitation is a sign of disrespect Always use please when talking to an elderly person Always say sorry when you offend someone Greeting is a sign of respect and promotes friendly relations in Ghana Farming and fishing are prohibited on Tuesdays in Ghana

8 TOURISM IN GHANA There are so many tourist attractions in Ghana depending on the purpose of your visit. There is enough for everyone. These could range from natural attractions like the Boti waterfalls, historical castles and resorts. In the capital city we have the James and Ussher fort, located in Jamestown, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum where the first president and the first lady of the Republic of Ghana are laid to rest, the Center for National Culture, the DuBois Memorial Center for Pan-Africa Culture, The Shai Hills Resource Reserve and the National Museum.

9 Independence Arch, Accra

10 La Palm Beach Hotel, Accra

11 African Village, La Palm Beach Hotel, Accra

12 Cape Coast Castle, Central Region

13 Cyril, Eugenia, Alan & Jamie at Cape Coast Castle, Central Region

14 Alan, (Rutherford & Chekene Engineer, CA, USA) Cape Coast Castle, Central Region

15 Elmina castle, Central Region

16 Elmina castle, Central Region

17 Kakum National Park, Central Region

18 Kakum National Park, Central Region

19 Kakum National Park, Central Region

20 Kakum National Park, Central Region

21 Hans Cottage, Central Region

22 Hans Cottage, Central Region

23 Hans Cottage, Central Region

24 Big Miley's Beach and Surf, Greater Accra

25 Art Centre

26 Nzulezu, Western Region

27 Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Accra

28 Larabanga mosque, Northern Region

29 Adome Bridge, Eastern Region

30 Aburi Gardens, Eastern Region

31 We neither look east nor west we look forward Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Ghana s 1 st Prime minister

32 Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Accra

33 WEATHER The weather in Ghana, specifically Accra, is mostly sunny during the day and cool during the night. Temperature during the day ranges from C. Certain sunny days are accompanied with a cool breeze which makes it easier to walk in the sun, however do not expect that too often especially during the dry season from December to mid-april.

34 TRANSPORTATION The main means of transportation in Ghana is by Land. Domestic flights are available to other parts of the country such as Kumasi, Takoradi, Sunyani and Tamale. Public transport is by commercial mini buses popularly known as Trotro, commercial taxis, metro buses and private taxis. As at now, only one train service provided by the Ghana Railway Corporation is currently in full operation. The train route is from the capital city Accra to Tema at an affordable cost.

35 COMMUNICATION and INTERNET ACCESS There are six telecommunication companies (MTN, Vodafone, Airtel, Tigo, Expresso and Glo) in Ghana that provide communication access via phone and internet. With the introduction of the 3.5G network by the telecommunication companies, it has become very easy to surf on the internet within the twinkling of an eye. The telecommunication network can also support blackberry data bundles, and internet access for smartphones like the iphone, Samsung Galaxy S series and other smartphones. There are several internet cafés that offer internet services to the general public. Closing hours of these cafes varies but averagely closes by10pm. Major internet cafes are; Busy Internet, at Ring Road, Accra Sharpnet, at Osu Vodafone internet cafes, at various locations in Accra and Tema

36 HEALTH [Hospitals and Pharmacies] There are hospitals and polyclinics in all the regional capitals in Ghana that are managed by government through the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health. The main hospitals in Accra are; Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Ridge Regional Hospital, Ridge Tema General Hospital, Tema Community 9 Police Hospital, Osu, Danquah Circle 37 Military Hospital, 37 area. Nyaho Medical Center, Airport West Aside these main hospitals, there are other equally good private hospitals. Pharmacies can also be located at various vantage points in Accra. The first point of call concerning health is at the pharmacy where issues such as treatment of cuts and bruises, common cold, stomach upset, diarrhoea, malaria, menstrual pain, allergies, headaches are treated by the pharmacist. For emergency situations we recommend you go straight to the nearest hospital.

37 ACCOMMODATION Ghana has several accommodation establishments ranging from five star hotels to home stays. For proximity we have listed a few accommodations near the Airport: Alisa hotel Airport View hotel Holi Flat Apartment Best Western Premier Central Hotel However there are other hotels situated within Accra, Osu and Ridge. For complete listings please go to ghanaweb.com Alisa Hotel, Ridge, Accra Holi Flat, Airport, Accra

38 There are numerous state-of-the art shopping centres in Accra where one could always shop and have fun during leisure hours and on holidays. The most popular ones in Accra are the: Accra Shopping Mall Marina Shopping Mall West Hill Mall Accra Art Center SHOPPING CENTRES just to mention a few which have a wide range of products to serve the needs of the people. Marina Mall, Airport City, Accra Accra Mall

39 Contact Us: Office Address: 5 19 th Close Dansoman Postal Address: P. O. Box AN Accra. Telephone: +233-(0) (Cyril) +233-(0) (Eugenia) info@youngdreamers-ghana.org Website: