About Mawulorm's Country

The Republic of Ghana is a coastal country in western Africa with a tropical climate. This small country is hot and humid as it borders the Gulf of Guinea. Once called the Gold Coast, Ghana is rich in read more... natural resources including gold, diamonds and rubber. Even though the country is wealthy in resources, about 45 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty, making less than U.S.$1 a day. Most of Ghana's more than 23 million people live in cities. About 98 percent of the population is African, split among six major tribes. But Ghana is flooded with refugees from its neighbors - war-torn Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo. Nearly 69 percent of the population is Christian, 16 percent is Muslim, and 8 percent follow indigenous beliefs. English is the official language, but some people speak native African languages such as Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe and Ga. Compassion works primarily in the coastal region in southern Ghana. Though Ghana was the first British colonial country in Africa to gain its independence, it has been plagued by political violence since it was established in 1957. Between 1957 and 1979, Ghana experienced a series of bloody and bloodless coups. Finally in 1992, a new constitution establishing a multiparty government was adopted and remains in place today. John Kufuor was elected Ghana's president in 2000, and began serving his second term in 2004.