Fast Facts About Ghana

Ghana

Ghana, formerly the known as the Gold Coast, was a British colony until 1957 when it became the first African country to gain independence. After political turbulence and questionable economic management, Ghana is now becoming increasingly economically healthy and is politically stable, with close ties to Britain. It is a staunch member of the Commonwealth.

Cash crop agriculture, with cocoa being the most important, is boosted by tobacco, coffee and tropical fruits. Mining, mainly gold and diamonds, is becoming important but the discovery of oils in 2007 and its exploitation, will transform this country.

Ghana first established trading links with Europe when the Portuguese visited in the 15th century. It became a British colony, named the Gold Coast, in 1874 and traces its history back to when it was the centre of a number of ancient kingdoms.

Being only a few degrees north of the Equator, and with the Greenwich Meridian running through it, Ghanaians can be excused for considering their country to be the closest to the centre of the world.

The port city of Accra is the political as well as commercial capital and is the gateway city. (Interested in staying in Accra, Ghana? Stay at the Holiday Inn Accra Airport)

Its coast, on the Gulf of Guinea, consists of low, sandy shores and used to be bordered by extensive rainforests. Now, sadly depleted, only remnants remain, some of them now protected, in the south west. North of what used to be rainforest is low bush, park-like savannah and grassy plains.

For the leisure traveller, Ghana's mix of beach resorts, game reserves, tribal music and dance, combined with a vibrant city nightlife provides a wide variety of things to do.

Ghanaians are friendly and welcoming people and the country's deep history and transformation to a well-embedded parliamentary democracy make it a comfortable and inviting destination for the leisure seeker, the history buff and, now with oil, the business traveller.

Welcome to Ghana - the centre of the world.