The Republic of Ghana- Ayana Forbes

Let me introduce you to the country of my choosing. The country I have decided to dive deep with, is a small country on the west coast of Africa. It is known to be one of the leading countries of Africa because of its natural wealth in resources. It was once so prolific for trading gold that it was once known as the Gold Coast. Ringing any bells yet? Yes indeed the country I have chosen is the Republic of Ghana.

The Republic of Ghana is its official name but from time to time I may refer to it simply as Ghana. The Republic of Ghana is approximately 92,099 square miles. It has a population of about 30 million with various ethnic groups, languages and religious affiliations. The main language is English. Its ecology ranges from coastal savannah to lush tropical forests. The life expectancy in Ghana from birth for men is 64.5 years old and for women 69.6 years old. The literacy rate for people over 15 and literate is 81.5% for men and 71% for women (Britannica 2021). The Republic of Ghana neighbors Cote D'Ivoire to the west, Togo to the East and Burkina Faso to the North. South of Ghana, you can see the Atlantic Ocean.

The Capital city is on the coast, Accra. Accra was once a focal trading hub and now it is the educational and commercial center of the country. Kumasi is also a prominent city that is considered an educational and commercial hub. The city of Kumasi is also where the King of the Asante people sits.

Speaking of the King of the Asante people. I think it is important to note that The Republic of Ghana has a president, Nana Akufo-Addo. In 1992, Ghana transformed into a unitary multiparty republic with one legislative house. The transition into becoming a democratic type government has been accredited to being an influence on Ghana's stability (Bbc.com/news).Ghana was one of the 1st African countries to attain independence from the colonial rulers of Britain on March 6, 1957. Prior to colonial invasion Ghana was actually an African empire 500 miles north of the present day country that flourished until the 13th century. Many natives of the Republic of Ghana claim to have ancestry from there. The 92,099 sq mi land mass that we know now as the Republic of Ghana was an area that was heavily endowed with gold. So much so that the British called the area the “Gold Coast” upon independence from Britain  it became the Republic of Ghana. The Republic of Ghana is rich in natural wealth. In the 15th century being easily accessible to the Europeans by the sea, they traded/exported gold. Ghana is the largest gold producing country. In the 17th century they exported slaves. The 19th century they began to grow and export Cacao which is still a very important export for Ghana. They are the second largest cacao producer in the world besides their neighbor Cote d'IVoire. I might add even though Ghana is rich in resources it is not the richest country compared to those it offers its raw resources to. Thankfully Ghana is not considered a third world country anymore and is the 9th richest country in Africa (Raihaan 2020).

References:

Economy of Ghana. (2021, April 02). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Ghana

Ghana. (2021, April 03). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana

Ghana country profile. (2020, December 11). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13433790

History of Ghana. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Ghana/History

Raihaan. (2020, December 01). List: Top 10 Richest African Countries [2020] Ranked by GDP & Exports: Wealth in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.araioflight.com/richest-african-countries-wealthiest-economy/