A virtual guide to Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, a country in western Africa just north of the Equator. Situated between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo, and bordered by Burkina Faso in the north and by the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) in the south.

The country covers an area of 238,533 km², making it slightly smaller than the UK, or also slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon.

Ghana's terrain offers mostly low plains with some scattered hills crisscrossed by rivers, and there is Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake.
Mount Afadja (or Mount Afadjato) is Ghana's highest peak with just 885 m (2,904 ft). The hill is located in the Agumatsa Range. The main rivers are the Black Volta, the Red Volta and the White Volta, they merge into one river Volta, which has been dammed at Akosombo to form Lake Volta, the world's largest artificial lake.

Ghana's population of almost 28.3 million inhabitants (in 2016) is divided into some 75 ethnic groups. The most densely populated parts of the country are the coastal areas, the Ashanti region around Kumasi, the Ashanti capital. The capital and largest city are Accra. Spoken languages are English (official), Akan (Twi–Fante), and about seventy more West African languages.

Background:
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election, succeeded him.