CULTURAL NEWS
Monday, March 5, 2007
Country Profile
 GHANA was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade first in gold, later in slaves.
It was also the first black African Nation in the region to achieve independence from a colonial power, in this instance, Britain.
FACTS
- Full Name : Republic of Ghana
- Population : 21.8 million (UN,2005)
- Capital : Accra
- Area : 238,533 sq km (92,098 sq miles)
- Major languages : English, African languages including Akan, Ewe
- Major religions : Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam
- Life expectancy : 56 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary Unit : Cedi
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Main Exports : Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds
· GNI per capita : US $450 (World Bank, 2006)
· Internet domain : .gh
· International dialing code: +233
LEADERS
President: John Kufour
John Kufour won a second term in December 2004, in a presidential poll praised for being well-run and orderly.
President Kufour is known as the “Gentle Giant”.
He came to power in the presidential ballot in December 2000, marking the first peaceful, democratic transfer of power in Ghana since independence. He succeeded the long-time ruler Jerry Rawlings.
Known as the “Gentle Giant”, Mr. Kufour has made economic growth a priority. During his first term, inflation and borrowing costs fell.
He has also taken a leading role in mediating in regional conflicts, including those in Liberia and Ivory Coast.
Born in 1938, Mr. Kufour is a devout Roman Catholic. A lawyer who studied at Oxford, he held positions as Deputy Foreign Minister and as Secretary for Local Government.
Ghana has a parliamentary form of government. The President serves four-year terms and chooses the cabinet.
Vice-President : Aliu Mahama
Foreign Minister : Nana Addo
Finance Minister : Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu
MEDIA
Ghana enjoys a high degree of media freedom and the private press and broadcasters operate without significant restrictions. The Commonwealth Press Union has described Ghana’s media as “one of the most unfettered” on the continent.
FOR THE RECORDS
2001 - Police used tear gas on unruly soccer fans, ensuing panic kills over 100 in
Ghana
1998 - Hilla Limann, President of Ghana in (1979 – 1981), dies
1992 - Ghana Airways inaugurates flights to JFK Airport, New York City
1981 - Lt. Jerry Rawlings becomes head of Ghana, suspends constitution
1979 - Ghana adopts constitution
1972 - Jim Ryan (U.S.) and Billy Fordjour (Ghana) collide and fall in
qualifying competitions for 1,500m finals, ending Ryan’s chances for gold.
1972 - Kwame Nkrumah, re-buried in Nkroful, Ghana
1972 - Kwame Nkrumah, President of Ghana, dies at 62
1972 - Military coup ousts civilian government of Ghana
1966 - Kwame Nkrumah flees Ghana to Guinea
1966 - Coup ousts President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana
1964 - Failed assassination attempt on President Nkrumah of Ghana
1963 - W.E.B. Du Bois, Scholar/Founder (NAACP), dies at 95 in Accra, Ghana
1962 - Failed assassination on President Nkrumah of Ghana
1960 - Ghana drops diplomatic relations with Belgium
1960 - Ghana becomes a Republic
1958 - Failed assassination attempt on Nkrumah
1957 - President Eisenhower apologises to Finance Minister of Ghana
Komla Agbeli Gbemah, after he is refused service in a Dover,
Del, Restaurant.
1957 - Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) declares independence from U.K.
1951 - Kwame Nkrumah wins 1st Parliamentary election in Gold Coast (Ghana)
from prison and released in February
1938 - Nana Annor Adjaye, Pan-Africanist, dies in W. Nzima, Ghana
1927 - James E.K. Aggrey, Ghana / US Theologian, dies
1909 - Birth of Kwame Nkrumah/Premier Gold Coast/President Ghana, 1960 – 1966
1901 - Great Britain annexes Gold Coast (Ghana)
1897 - British troops occupy Bida Gold Coast (Ghana)
1875 - Birth of James E.K. Aggrey, Ghana, U.S. theologian/educationalist.
*Source:
Daily Graphic - Monday, March 5, 2007 Page: 2 |