Ghana at a Glance

• Population: approx. 20.5 million


• Capital city: Accra, approx. 1.9 million inhabitants


• Language: English (official language)


• Religions: 30% Islam, 20% Protestant Church, 10% Catholic Church, 40% additional natural religions


• Form of government: Presidential Democracy

Economy

Germany currently is the third largest importer to the Republic of Ghana and ranks 8th as export destination. Conversely, Ghana occupied 89th position for imports and 93rd position for exports in trade with the Federal Republic of Germany in 2003. Ghana's main exports to Germany were raw cocoa, aluminium (unwrought but also alloys), timber and cut timber as well as tropical fruits. Ghana mainly imported the following products from Germany: motor vehicles, machinery and chemical products. Some 90 German companies operate in Ghana, most of which are members of the Ghanaian-German Economic Association (GGEA). erman development cooperation with Ghana focuses on the following priority areas: Democracy, civil society, public administration; Agriculture and food security; Economic reform and transition to a market economy. The German government is also engaged in transport, which is being phased out as a sector.

Culture and Science

A major contributor to cultural relations between Ghana and Germany is the Goethe Institute in Accra, who activities range from German language courses to the fine arts, music, dance, literature and film and also include social and economic issues. Engaged locally are the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which organizes exchanges for students and teachers and promotes the German language, the Deutsche Welle, whose programmes are rebroadcast by 23 Ghanaian stations and which has trained the many Ghanaian journalists and technicians, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the church missions, which concentrate on education and health. Football is extraordinarily popular in Ghana. Many Ghanaian footballers play for German clubs (e.g. Sammy Kuffour, who helped Bayern Munich to World Cup success in 2001). Ghana sent handball and judo coaches for further training to Leipzig University and two soccer trainers to the German Football Association's sports academy at Hennef. The Embassy has made numerous donations to Ghanaian sports clubs and schools.

Links

www.ghanaemberlin.de (Official representation of Ghana in Germany)
www.accra.diplo.de (German Embassy in Ghana)
www.ggea.net (Ghanaian German Economic Association (GGEA))
www.goethe.de/accra (Goethe-Institute in Accra)