Chapter 46
GHANA
@Ghana:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 238,540 sq km land : 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf : 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops : 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment - current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
@Ghana:People
Population: 18,100,703 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 3,928,741; female 3,891,591) 15-64 years: 54% (male 4,775,610; female 4,939,664) 65 years and over : 3% (male 268,579; female 296,518) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.21% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 33.88 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.89 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.49 years male : 54.47 years female: 58.57 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.43 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 75.9% female : 53.5% (1995 est.)
@Ghana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast
Data code: GH
Government type: constitutional democracy
National capital: Accra
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS elected president; percent of vote - Rawlings 58.8%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 126, NPP 65, PCP 5, PNC 1, to be determined 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala ADJETY]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Alex ERSKINE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong Kuman Kuman]; Every Ghanian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Ashang OKINE]; Peoples Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOS-AYIFL, acting chairman]; Peoples National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Designate Harry SAWYERS chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX : [1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward BRYNN embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 775348 FAX: [233] (21) 775747
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
Economy
Economy - overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Ghana has made steady progress in liberalizing its economy since 1983. Overall growth continued at a rate of approximately 5% in 1995 and 1996, due largely to increased gold, timber, and cocoa production - major sources of foreign exchange. The economy, however, continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP and employs 55% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-96, Ghana has made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases, regional peacekeeping commitments, and the containment of internal unrest in the underdeveloped north have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity program.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $27 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,530 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 46% industry: 16% services: 38% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 36% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 3.7 million by occupation: agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales and clerical 15.2%, professional 3.7%, services, transportation, and communications 7.7%
Unemployment rate: 10% (1993 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.05 billion expenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $178 million (1993)
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 1.19 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 6.1 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 304 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports: total value: $1.43 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 31%, timber 6%, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1994 est.) partners: UK, Germany, US, Togo, Netherlands, Japan
Imports: total value: $1.84 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods partners : UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands
Debt - external: $5.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $472 million (1993)
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1 - 1,718.31 (October 1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994), 649.06 (1993), 437.09 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Ghana:Communications
Telephones: 70,000 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international : satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4 (repeaters 8)
Televisions: 250,000 (1993 est.)
@Ghana:Transportation
Railways: total: 953 km (undergoing major renovation) narrow gauge : 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 37,561 km paved: 9,353 km (including 21 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,208 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine: total : 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,900 GRT/37,240 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2 (1996 est.)
Airports: 12 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,254,386 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 2,365,286 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 178,560 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $30 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.8% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US ______________________________________________________________________
GIBRALTAR
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Gibraltar:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
@Gibraltar:People
Population: 28,913 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 3,121; female 2,725) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,771; female 8,278) 65 years and over : 14% (male 1,629; female 2,389) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.48% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 13.45 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male : 74.7 years female: 81.47 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: above 95% male: NA% female : NA%
@Gibraltar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code: GI
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Gibraltar
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Constitution: 30 May 1969
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (NA February 1997) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results : percent of vote by party - SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party - SD 8, SL 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL [Joe BOSSANO]; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar National Party or NP [Joe GARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
Economy
Economy - overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,600 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services : NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) by occupation : services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $111.6 million expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995-96)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 33,000 kW (1993)
Electricity - production: 90 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: none
Exports: total value: $57 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners : UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports: total value: $708 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Debt - external: $318 million (1987)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (£G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (£G) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Gibraltar:Communications
Telephones: 19,356 (1994)
Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4
Televisions: NA
@Gibraltar:Transportation
Railways: total : NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways: total: 49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways) paved: 49.9 km unpaved: 0 km
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar
Merchant marine: total : 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 356,676 GRT/633,152 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 14 (1996 est.)
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: source of friction between Spain and the UK ______________________________________________________________________
GLORIOSO ISLANDS
(possession of France)
@Glorioso Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 5 sq km land : 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Area - comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: NA
@Glorioso Islands:People
Population: uninhabited
@Glorioso Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form : none local short form: Iles Glorieuses
Data code: GO
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Glorioso Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar ______________________________________________________________________
GREECE
@Greece:Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries: total: 1,210 km border countries : Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 228 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea : 6 nm
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point : Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use: arable land : 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 41% forests and woodland: 20% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to : Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Desertification, Tropical Timber 94
Geography - note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
@Greece:People
Population: 10,616,055 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 905,146; female 845,929) 15-64 years: 67% (male 3,583,854; female 3,565,882) 65 years and over: 16% (male 759,648; female 955,596) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.44% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 9.75 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 9.32 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.17 years male: 75.64 years female: 80.89 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.33 children born/woman (1997 est.)