ghana

Name: Democratic Republic of Ghana
Political Capital: Accra
Major cities: Kumasi (1.170.000 ab.), Sekondi/Takoradi (650,000 ab.), Tamale
(200.000 ab.), Bolga-tanga (142.003 ab.), Wa (141.813 ab.)
Form of Government: Presidential Republic
Political situation: The current President is John Evans Atta-Mills (elected on 3rd January 2009 for a four-year term). The last presidential and legislative elections were held on 7th December 2008; the next round of elections will be held on 7th December  2012. The country has seen free and peaceful elections since 1992.
Territorial subdivision: Divided into 10 Regions:  Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Grand Accra, North, High East, High West, Volta, Este
Population: 23.832.495; there are 285 Italian residents
Urbanization rate: 51% of the total population in 2010, and an annual estimated growth rate in 2015 of 3.4%
Population density: 102,62 inhabitants per km2
Ethnic groups: Akan 44% (comprising also the Ashanti), Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%
Official religions: Christians (63%, out of which approx. 18% Catholics); Animists (21%); Muslims (16%)
Official language: English (official), Ewe, Ga, Akan, Moshi Dagom-ba
Territory surface: 238.533 km2
Land: 227.533 km2
Neighboring countries: Burkina Faso in the North, the Gulf of Guinea in the South, Ivory Coast in the West, Togo in the East
Climate: tropical, hot and relatively dry on the South Coast, hot and humid in the South-East, hot and dry in the North
Festivities and work hours: March 6th  – Independence Day, April 22nd  – Good Friday, April 25th  – Easter, May 1st – Workers Day, May 25th – AU Day, July 1st – Feast of the Republic, September 21st – Founding day, December 2nd – Farmer’ s Day, December 25th – Christmas, December 26th – Boxing Day
Passport and Visa: All foreigners must be in possession of a valid passport and travel documents. All foreigners must all have a valid Visa or hold an entrance permit valid for the Commonwealth (ECOWAS citizens or citizens of other countries which hold bilateral ties with Ghana are exempt from the above requirements).
Local currency: Cedi
Currency exchange rate: 1€ = 11,701 GHS
GDP: 36,58 billion USD
GDP growth rate: 5.7%
Inflation: 9.13%
Unemployment: 11%
Transport system: 11 airports (2010), railways 947 km, road network 62.221 km (out of which approximately 10.000 km paved roads), accessible water courses 1.293 km
Economy: Ghana is classified as an intermediate level economy. Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana present more than double the amount of per capita exports when compared to the less developed countries of West Africa.
Primary Sector: the primary sector is fundamental to Ghana, as the country is the second largest world producer of cacao. The country also presents rice and manioc crops.
Secondary sector: Gold extraction is one of the primary industrial activities in the country. Ghana’s industrial activities comprise also of agro-industry, pharmaceutical and textile sectors, timber processing, salt production and electronic devices.
Tertiary sector: Tourism, ICT, financial services
Renewable energies: The objective is to grant access to electricity across the whole country by 2020, through the development of the hydroelectric, solar, wind, biomass and biofuels energy sectors.
Investment incentives: the Centre for Investment Promotion offers assistance to the private sector for foreign investments both at the services and industrial levels, through the 1994 Law Nr. 478, and the GIPC Act, Sections 23, 24, 25.