High Commission of IndiaAccra, Ghana

GENERAL

Official Name

Republic of Ghana

Location

On the West Coast of Africa, situated between latitudes 4° and 11° North, bordered by Togo on the east, Côte D’Ivoire on the West, Burkina Faso on the North and the Atlantic Ocean on the South.

Capital

Accra

Regions

16 (Greater Accra, Western, Central, Eastern, Volta, Ashanti, Bono, Northern, Upper West, Upper East, Ahafo, Bono East, Savannah, North East, Oti and Western North). Last 6 regions created in 2018. Regions are headed by Regional Ministers appointed by the President.

Area

238,533 km2. (Land: 227,533 km2; Water: 11,000 km2)

Climate

Ghana is characterized by a tropical climate. The annual rainfall level decreases as the altitude increases to the north, where Savannah climate becomes dominant. Most part of the country belongs to the Tropical Savannas climate and the Sub-Sahelian African moist region. The annual mean temperature ranges from 25°C to 27°C and is fairly constant throughout the year. The annual rainfall can be as high as 2,000mm in the south-western part of the country & decreases towards the north-east, dropping to 1,000mm at the northern border area.

Population

30.83 million (Male: 15.2mn; Female: 15.6mn) (Ghana PHC, 2021)

Age Profile

0-14 (35.3%); 15-64 (60.4%), 65 & above (4.3%)

Life Expectancy

64.9 years (Male 63.8 years; female 66.1 years)

Languages

English; Major local dialects: Akan (or Twi), Ewe, Dagbani, Nzema and Ga/Adangbe. In all, there are about 60 different languages.

Ethnic Groups

Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021e)

Religion

Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

Internet Penetration

71.94% (Jun 2023). Total data subscriptions: 24.76mn (Jan 2024)

Mobile Phones

Total voice subscriptions was 39,812,171 (Jan. 2023)

Urbanisation

58.62% (2022, Statista)

Forest area

7.9mn hectares, 35.1% of total land area (FAO, 2020)

POLITICAL

Political Structure

Unitary Republic; Constitutional democracy

Major Political Parties

Ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC); others are Convention People’s Party (CPP)

In the Parliamentary elections in December 2020, out of 275 seats, the NPP and the NDC won 137 seats each, with one secured by an independent, who extended support to NPP.

Head of State

President (H.E. Mr. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo since 7 January 2017; re-elected for 2nd term winning the Presidential elections in December 2020, securing 51.6% votes)

Head of Government

Presidential Form of Government

Political Structure

Unitary Republic; Constitutional Democracy

ECONOMIC

Currency

Cedis (1 Cedi=100 pesewas; USD1=GhC GhC15.35 ) (Jul 2024, Xe)

GDP

USD 76.37bn;  (PPP) US$ 7,466.4  Dec 2023 Trading Economics)

GDP Per Capita

USD 2,066.38 (2023, Trading Economics)

GDP Growth Rate

4.7% (first quarter  - 2024, Trading Economics)

Composition of GDP

Agriculture (21,4%); Industry (32.3%); Services (46.3%)

(GSS, 2023).

Inflation

23.1% (May 2024, GSS)

External debt

USD 52.4bn (December 2023, BOG)

Unemployment

4.0% (2024, Fitch Solutions)

Total Trade with World

Total: USD 23.955bn (GhC 366.6bn) (2023, GSS)

Exports: USD 12.154bn (GhC 186.0bn)

Imports: USD 11.807bn (GhC 180.7bn)

[GSS May 2024 reports) trade figures conversion rate @USD1=GhC15.3(2024)]

Exports to World

Top 5 items (2023)

Gold bullion - USD 7.62bn (GhC 83.95bn);

Petroleum oils - USD 4.20bn (GhC 46.27bn);

Cocoa beans - USD 1.18bn (GhC 13.00bn);

Cocoa paste - USD 0.33bn (GhC 3.63bn);

Manganese ores - USD 0.32bn (GhC 3.52bn).

[MoTI trade figures conversion rate @USD1=GhC11.0178 (2023)]

Imports from World

Top 5 items (2023)

Cement and clinkers - USD 0.27bn (GhC 2.97bn);

Used 3-wheeled vehicles - USD 0.24bn (GhC 2.64bn);

Cereal grains - USD 0.22bn (GhC 2.42bn);

Self-propelled bulldozers - USD 0.20bn (GhC 2.20bn);

Herbicides - USD 0.18bn (GhC 1.98bn).

[MoTI trade figures conversion rate @USD1=GhC11.0178 (2023)]

FDIs net inflows

USD 649.58 million  (2023, GIPC)

Net ODAs received

USD 1.045bn (2022, WB)

BILATERAL TRADE

Total Trade

USD 2,515.78mn (2023-24); USD 2,873.76mn (2022-23)

[USD 2,607.24mn (2021-22); USD 2,237.46mn (2020-21), USD 2,390.97mn (2019-20); USD 4,480.74mn (2018-19)] (DoC, GoI)

India’s Exports

USD 1098.88mn  (2023-24); USD 964.17mn (2022-23)

[USD 1109.66mn (2021-22); USD 862.50mn (2020-21); USD 617.42mn (2019-2020); USD 717.33mn (2018-19)] (DoC, GoI)

Pharmaceutical, Mineral Fuels & Oils, Plastics & articles, Iron or Steel & articles, Vehicles & parts, Textile, Chemicals, Cereals, Paper & Paperboard, etc.

India’s Imports

USD 1416.90 mn (2023-24); USD 1,909.59mn (2022-23)

[USD 1,497.77mn (2021-22); USD 1,374.96mn (2020-21); USD 1,773.55mn (2019-2020); USD 3,763.41mn (2018-19). (DoC, GoI)

Gold, Edible fruit and nuts, Wood, Oil seeds and Olea, Aluminium, Rubber, Cocoa, Iron and Steel, etc.

India’s FDIs in Ghana

USD 6.19mm in 3 projects in 2024 (Jan-Mar), USD 77.93mn in 13 projects in 2023 ; USD 32.48mn in 25 projects in 2022.

[USD 2.2bn between 1994-2021. USD 93.84mn in 25 projects in 2021; USD 34.87mn in 11 projects in 2020; USD 17.49mn in 16 projects]. (GIPC)

Agriculture, pharmaceuticals, construction, manufacturing, agro-processing, service, tourism, etc.

Ghana’s FDIs in India

As per data available with DIPP, FDI inflow from Ghana is negligible. US$ 7.88mn from Apr 2000-Mar 2024. (DPIIT, GoI)

Indian Community

The estimated number of Indians living in Ghana is about 15,000 out of which about 3,000 hold Ghanaian nationality. Some of the PIOs have been in Ghana for over 70 years. Majority of the older generation of PIOs are Gujaratis and Sindhis. The contributions of Indian community to economic development of Ghana and in building local manufacturing capacities are well appreciated. A sizeable part of NRIs are middle level employees of companies operating in Ghana, both Indian-origin owned as well as foreign companies, particularly in IT, marketing, finance and accounts, etc.