Ghana is located on West Africa's Gulf of Guinea only a few degrees
north of the Equator. Half of the country lies less than 152 meters
(500 ft.) above sea level, and the highest point is 883 meters (2,900
ft.). The 537-kilometer (334-mi.) coastline is mostly a low, sandy
shore backed by plains and scrub and intersected by several rivers
and streams, most of which are navigable only by canoe. A tropical
rain forest belt, broken by heavily forested hills and many streams
and rivers, extends northward from the shore, near the Cote d'Ivoire
frontier. This area, known as the "Ashanti," produces most
of the country's cocoa, minerals, and timber. North of this belt,
the country varies from 91 to 396 meters (300-1,300 ft.) above sea
level and is covered by low bush, park-like savanna, and grassy plains.
The climate is tropical. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively
dry; the southwest corner, hot and humid; and the north, hot and dry.
There are two distinct rainy seasons in the south--May-June and August-September;
in the north, the rainy seasons tend to merge. A dry, northeasterly
wind, the Harmattan, blows in January and February. Annual rainfall
in the coastal zone averages 83 centimeters (33 in.).
Volta Lake, the largest man-made lake in the world, extends from the
Akosombo Dam in southeastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 520 kilometers
(325 mi.) to the north. The lake generates electricity, provides inland
transportation, and is a potentially valuable resource for irrigation
and fish farming.
Roads: Most regions accessible by road network
of more than 32,000 km, 12,000 classified as main roads. About 6,000
km paved, remainder gravel or earth. Since 1985 major repairs under
way on all main and some feeder roads.
Railroads: 953 km of narrow gauge (1.067 meter) track; only 32 km
double-tracked. Serve only southern industrial/commercial centres,
mainly connecting Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Kumasi. Limited renovation
under way as part of Economic Recovery Program.
Civil Aviation: Eleven airfields, including Kotoka International
Airport at Accra and major domestic airports at Sekondi-Takoradi,
Kumasi, and Tamale. Ghana Airways operates small fleet on domestic
and international routes. In early 1990s, runways, lighting, and
freight and terminal buildings upgraded at Kotoka International
Airport.
Ports and Waterways: Two deep artificial harbours, one at Tema (2.7
million ton capacity) and the other at Takoradi (projected 1.6 million
ton capacity). More than 1,100-kilometer navigable network on Lake
Volta, with additional ports planned; 168 km of Ankobra River, Tano
River, and Volta River navigable. Small merchant marine of one refrigerated
and five cargo ships.
Telecommunications: Relatively limited telecommunications system.
About 45,000 telephones in 1993, concentrated in Accra. Two domestic
radio-relay systems, one east-west serving coastal cities, one north
and south connecting Accra with Burkina Faso. International telecommunications
via link with International Telecommunications Satellite Corporation
(Intelsat) Atlantic Ocean Satellite. Four AM and one FM radio stations;
four television stations; two domestic short-wave transmitters broadcast
in English and six local languages; one international transmitter
broadcasts in English, French, and Hausa.
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