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Welcome to Ghana- A Democratic Nation in Africa
Ghana and U.S.A
Did you know- For more than three decades, Ghana has maintained cordial diplomatic relations with the United States of America. Curiously, in the 1970s, Shirley Temple Black, a former world-famous actress, was appointed America’s ambassador to Ghana, at that time a pro-Soviet nation. Because of its exemplary democracy, three U.S. Presidents have visited the country in the last decades. The English-speaking nation was visited by Bill Clinton in March 1998. Ten years on, America’s Head of State George Walker Bush arrived in it for an official visit. Finally, Barack Obama paid a state visit to the African republic in July 2009.During his visit to Ghana, he said, “The African continent is a place of extraordinary promise as well as challenge. We’re not going to be able to fulfill those promises unless we see better governance”.
Geography
Did you know- The Republic of Ghana covers about 92,100 square miles ( 238,540 square kilometers). This English-speaking is located on the southern coast of Western Africa. Curiously, it is bordered by three former French colonies: by Cote d’ Ivoire (once called Ivory Coast) to the west, Togo (one of the world’s smallest republics) to the east, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. This nation is covered by wetlands, savannas, and rain forests. Accra –a city with several historic buildings- is the country’s capital.
National Wonders
Did you know- Lake Volta is one of the largest artificial lakes of the world (more than twice the size of Rhode Island).
World-famous Persons
Did you know- Ghana is the birthplace of Kofi Annan, who was Secretary General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2001. In the meantime, he was the second African to be named Secretary General, after Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egypt). What is more, no other black diplomat had ever won this post. Born into a well-off family, Mr Annan, an expert on world issues, hails from Kumasi, the country’s second largest city. Like Nelson Mandela (South African leader), Anwar Sadat (Nobel Prize in Peace), and Abebe Bikila (Ethiopia’s Olympic champ), Mr Annan, a U.S.-educated diplomat, is one of the most respected persons on the African mainland.
Gold Coast
Did you know- When the British conquered it in the 19th century, the African country was renamed Gold Coast.
Democracy
Did you know- Today Ghana is a bastion of democracy – with a good human rights record– in West Africa. After decades of military rule, this corner of the planet became a democratic nation -“the envy of West Africa”– in the 1990s. During this period of time, a new multiparty Constitution, backed by Ghana’s ruler Jerry Rawlings, was proclaimed, on April 28, 1992, and it became home to several political parties. Thus, the next presidents were all democratic leaders. Prior to 1992, censorship had been imposed by dictators, among them Kwame Nkrumah (1957-66) and other warlords. From the 2000s on, it has stepped up efforts to build a strong democracy. And in December 2008, John Atta Mills, a British-educated lawyer, was sworn in as Head of State; he has become the nation’s second democratic President in the 21st century. Because of this, it is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s best democracies.
Soccer
Did you know- Soccer -a legacy of British rule- has long been king in the country since the 1970s and most of its idols play in Europe. Despite the exodus, the country is one of the best teams of the world’s developing countries. Ghana has qualified for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, along with Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, and Cote d’ Ivoire and other nations.
Continental Titles:
1963: African Cup of Nations- winner
1965: African Cup of Nations- winner
1968: African Cup of Nations- 1st runner-up
1970: African Championship-1st runner-up
1978: Continental Tournament- champion
1978: All Africa Games- bronze medal
1982: Continental Tournament- champion
1992: African Tournament- 1st runner-up
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Source by Alejandro Guevara Onofre