Ghana: Country and Culture-رويال كلاس للبحوث الأكاديمية والدراسات العليا

Ghana

by:

ل د ث س رو - ا

[email protected]

3/13/2015

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

2

1) Social Environment

The Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by

Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf

of Guinea to the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King" and is derived

from the ancient Ghana Empire. Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a

number of ancient predominantly Akan kingdoms, including the inland Ashanti

Empire, the Akwamu, the Akyem, the Bonoman, the Denkyira, and the Fante

among others. Non-Akan states created by the Ga also existed as did states by the

Dagomba. Prior to contact with Europeans trade between the Akan and various

African states flourished due to Akan gold wealth. Trade with European states

began after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British

established the Gold Coast Crown colony in 1874 over parts but not all of the

country. The Gold Coast achieved independence from the United Kingdom in

1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to do so, from European

colonialism [1].

The name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire

of Ghana, which once extended throughout much of west Africa. Ghana is a

member of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, the United Nations,

the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of

West African States, and an associate member of La Francophonie. Ghana is one

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

3

of the largest cocoa producers in the world, and is also home to Lake Volta, the

largest artificial lake in the world by surface area.[2].

• Flag Meanings

The horizontal stripes (from top to bottom) of yellow, blue and red tricolor have a

ratio of 2:1:1. It—together with that of Ecuador, also derived from the flag of

Gran Colombia—is different from most other tricolor flags, either vertical or

horizontal, in having stripes which are not equal in size. (Venezuela, whose flag is

also derived from the same source, opted for a more conventional tricolor with

equal stripes) [2].

According to the current interpretation, the colors signify:

• Yellow: represents all the gold found in the Ghana land.

• Green: represents the green forests in Ghana’s lamd

• Red: represents the blood spilled on the battlegrounds by the heroes who

gained Ghana’s freedom.

• History

There is archaeological evidence showing that humans have lived in present-

day Ghana since the Bronze Age. However, until the 11th century, the majority of

modern Ghana's area was largely unoccupied. Although the area of present-day

Ghana has experienced many population movements, the major ethnic groups in

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

4

Ghana today were firmly settled by the 16th century. By the early 11th century,

the Akan were firmly established in a state called Bonoman, for which the Brong-

Ahafo Region region is named. The Ga and Dagomba states were established by

the 16th century.

From the 13th century, numerous groups emerged from what is believed to

have been the Bonoman area, to create several Akan States, mainly based on gold

trading. These states included Denkyira, Akwamu, and Akyem. By the 19th

century, most of modern Ghanaian territory was included in the Empire of

Ashanti, one of the most influential states in sub-Saharan Africa prior to colonial

rule. The Ashanti government operated first as a loose network, and eventually as

a centralized kingdom with an advanced, highly specialized bureaucracy centered

in Kumasi. It is said that at its peak, the Asantehene could field 500,000 troops,

and it had some degree of military influence over all of its neighbours.

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

5

• Independence History

Early European contact by the Portuguese, who came to Ghana in the 15th

century, focused on the extensive availability of gold. The Portuguese first landed

at a coastal city inhabited by the Fante nation-state, and named the place Elmina.

In 1481, King John II of Portugal commissioned Diogo d'Azambuja to build

Elmina Castle, which was completed in 3 years. By 1598, the Dutch had joined

them, building forts at Komeda and Kormantsi. In 1617, they captured the Olnini

Castle from the Portuguese, and Axim in 1642. Other European traders had joined

in by the mid-17th century, largely English, Danes and Swedes. English

merchants, impressed with the gold resources in the area, named it the Gold

Coast, while French merchants, impressed with the jewellery worn by the coastal

people, named the area to the west "Côte d'Ivoire", or Ivory Coast [3].

More than thirty forts and castles were built by the Portuguese, Dutch, British

and Spanish merchants. The Gold Coast was known for centuries as 'The White

Man's Grave', because many of the Europeans who went there died of malaria and

other tropical diseases. After the Dutch withdrew in 1874, Britain made the Gold

Coast a protectorate. Following conquest by the British in 1896 until

independence in March 1957, the territory of modern Ghana, excluding the Volta

Region (British Togoland), was known as the Gold Coast [1].

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

6

Many wars occurred between the colonial powers and the various nation-

states in the area, including the 1806 Ashanti–Fante War, and the continuous

struggle by the Ashanti against the British in many wars. The Ashanti defeated the

British a few times, but eventually lost with the Ashanti-British War in the early

1900s.

Even under colonial rule, the chiefs and people often resisted the policies

of the British; however, moves toward decolonization intensified after World War

II. In 1947, the newly formed United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) called for

"self-government within the shortest possible time." After rioting increased in

1948, the members of the United Gold Coast Convention were arrested, including

future prime minister and president Kwame Nkrumah.

Later, Nkrumah formed his own party, the Convention People's Party

(CPP) with the motto "self-government now." He began a "Positive Action"

campaign and gained the support of rural and working-class people. He was again

imprisoned for being the leader of a party that caused boycotts, strikes and other

forms of civil disobedience. After winning a majority in the Legislative Assembly

in 1952, Nkrumah was released and appointed leader of government business.

After further negotiations with Britain, on 6 March 1957 at 12 a.m. Nkrumah

declared Ghana "free forever" [1].

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

7

• Population growth rate

The population of Ghana is divided into some 75 ethnic groups. In the recent

census of 2011 the estimated population of Ghana is 25,000 000(females-51%,

males 49), giving the country an overall population density of 78 persons per sq

km (201 per sq mi). The most densely populated parts of the country are the

coastal areas, the Ashantiregion, and the two principal cities, Accra and Kumasi.

About 70 percent of the total population lives in the southern half of the country.

The most numerous peoples are the coastal Fanti, andthe Ashanti, who live in

central Ghana, both of whom belong to theAkan family. The Accra plains are

inhabited by the Ga-Adangbe. Most of the inhabitants in the northern region

belong to the Moshi-Dagomba or to the Gonja group [2].

Source: Popula on Census, 2000.

Region Population (%)

Ashanti 3,187,607 (17.3%)

Greater Accra 2,909,643 (15.8%)

Eastern 2,108,852 (11.5%)

North 1,854,994 (10.1%)

Western 1,842,878 (10.0%)

Brong Ahafo 1,824,822 (9.9%)

Volta 1,612,299 (8.8%)

Central 1,580,047 (8.6%)

Upper East 917,251 (5%)

Upper West 573,860 (3.1%)

Total 18,412,247

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

8

• Regions of Ghana and Districts of Ghana

Ghana is divided into 10 administrative regions, subdivided into a total of 170

districts. The regions are:

• Ashanti, capital Kumasi

• Brong Ahafo, capital Sunyani

• Central, capital Cape Coast

• Eastern, capital Koforidua

• Greater Accra, capital Accra

• Northern, capital Tamale

• Upper East, capital Bolgatanga

• Upper West, capital Wa

• Volta, capital Ho

• Western, capital Sekondi-Takoradi

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

9

Ashanti is one of the five regions of Akanland and the second largest of

Akanland, and the third largest in Ghana. Ashanti is the ancestral home of Akan

people who make up 95% of Ashanti's population. Ashanti is the second richest

region and most well-endowed region with gold reserves in Akanland. Ashanti

occupies a total land surface of 24,389 square kilometers or 10.2 per cent of the

total land area of Ghana. In terms of population, however, it is the most populated

region with a population of 3,612,950 in 2000, accounting for 19.1 per cent of

Ghana’s total population. Capital of Ashanti is Kumasi [1].

2) Culture in Ghana

• Ghanaian cuisine

Ghanaian cuisine is the national cuisine of Ghana. There are traditional dishes

from each ethnic group, tribe and clan. Ghanaian main dishes unlike other

cunalyes, are organized around a starchy with which a sauce or soup saturated

with fish, meat or mushrooms is served [2].

The typical Ghanaian staples in the south include cassava and plantain. In

the northern parts of the country, their main staples include millet and sorghum.

Yam, maize and beans are used across the country as staple foods. Crops such as

peanuts and cocoyam are also important in the local cuisine. With the advent of

modernization and colonialism, imported crops such as rice and wheat have been

increasingly incorporated in Ghanaian cuisine. The foods below represent the

dishes made out of these staple foods [2].

Some of the main starchy dishes are:

• Fufu – pounded cassava and plantain or pounded yam and plantain, or

pounded cocoyam/taro

• Banku/Akple – cooked fermented corn dough and cassava dough

• Kenkey/Dokonu – fermented corn dough, wrapped in corn or plantain

leaves and cooked into a consistent solid balls

• Tuo Zaafi – a maize dish from Northern Ghana

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

10

• Fonfom – a maize dish of the Ahanta and Nzema people in Southern

Ghana

• Konkonte – from cassava powder

• Gari – made from cassava

• Omo Tuo – pounded rice staple of Northern origins

• Waakye – rice and beans

Waakye Cuisine.

Fufu Cuisine.

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

11

• Festivals in Ghana

The Panafest celebrates roots, and African-Americans with roots

from the region, often visit and celebrate their heritage. The Pan African

Historical Theatre Project now known as PANAFEST is a cultural event

held in Ghana every two years for Africans and people of African descent.

It was first held in 1992. The idea of this festival is to promote and

enhance unity, Pan-Africanism, and the development of the continent of

Africa itself. Activities that occur at this festival are performances and

work in the areas of theatre, drama, music, and poetry, among other

things. Also, there are viewing of the durbar of Chiefs, and tours to

various places of interest, such as slave castle dungeons [3].

• Music in Ghana

There are three distinct types of music: ethnic or traditional music,

normally played during festivals and at funerals; "highlife" music, which

is a blend of traditional and ‘imported’ music; and choral music, which is

performed in concert halls, churches, schools and colleges. Choir, chorale

or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the

music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. A body of

singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus. The

former term is very often applied to groups affiliated with a church and the

second to groups that perform in theatres or concert halls, but this

distinction is far from rigid [4].

• Sport in Ghana

Association football is the most popular sport in the country. The

national men's football team is known as the Black Stars, with the under-

20 team known as the Black Satellites. The under-17 team is known as the

Black Starlets, while the national men's Olympic team are known as the

Black Meteors. They have participated in many championships including

the African Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA U-20

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

12

World Cup. While men's football is most widely followed sport in Ghana,

the national women's football team is gaining exposure, participating in

the FIFA Women's World Cup and the CAF Women's Championship. The

Ghana women's national football team is known as the Black Queens,

while the Ghana national women's under-20 football team are the Black

Princesses [3].

There are several club football teams in Ghana, which play in the

Ghana Premier League and Division One league, both managed by the

Ghana Football Association. Notable among these are Accra Hearts of

Oak SC and Asante Kotoko, which play at the premier league level and

are the dominant contenders in the tournament [4].

• Official Language of Ghana

Different sources give different figures for the number of

languages of Ghana. This is because of different classifications of varieties

as either languages or dialects. Ethnologue lists a total of 79 languages. As

with many ex-colonies in Africa, the official language of Ghana is the

English language.

There are nine government-sponsored languages. They are

supported by the Bureau of Ghana Languages, which was established in

1951 and publishes materials in them. During the periods when Ghanaian

languages were used in primary education, these were the languages

which were used. The languages of Ghana belong to the following

branches within the Niger–Congo language family. Older classifications

group them as Kwa, Gur, and Mande:

o Kwa languages (Akan, Bia, Guang in Tano; Ga and Adangme)

Gbe languages (Ewe)

o Gur languages (Gurunsi; also Dagomba, Mossi, Dagaare, and

Frafra in Oti–Volta)

Senufo languages (Nafaanra)

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

13

Kulango languages

o Mande languages (Ligbi)

Taking into credit that nine languages have the status of Ghanaian

government-sponsored languages

• Twi is one of the Akan languages, which are part of the Kwa

branch of the Niger–Congo family. It is the most widely spoken

language in Ghana. The dialects, especially Twi and Fante, are

often given the status of separate languages,

• Ewe is a Gbe language, part of the Volta–Niger branch of the

Niger–Congo family. It is spoken by approximately 2 million

people in the Volta Region of south-east Ghana. It is also spoken

in Togo.

• Dagbani, or Dagomba, is one of the Gur languages. It is spoken in

the Northern Region of Ghana.

• Dangme is one of the Ga–Dangme languages within the Kwa

branch. It is spoken in Greater Accra, in south-east Ghana and

Togo.

• Dagaare is another of the Gur languages. It is spoken in the Upper

West Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in Burkina Faso.

• Ga is the other Ga–Dangme language. Ga is spoken in south-

eastern Ghana, in and around the capital Accra.

• Nzema is one of the Bia languages, closely related to Akan. It is

spoken by the Nzema people in the Western Region of Ghana. It is

also spoken in the Ivory Coast.

• Kasem is a Gurunsi language, in the Gur branch. It is spoken in the

Upper Eastern Region of Ghana. It is also spoken in Burkina Faso.

• Gonja is one of the Guang languages, part of the Tano languages

along with Akan and Bia. It is spoken in the Northern Region of

Ghana and Wa.

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

14

3) Education in Ghana

Education in Ghana includes nursery school, elementary school, high

school, technical instruction and university education. A typical Ghanaian studies

11 years and attempts to complete the secondary level of education. Education for

Employment and Human Development is regulated by law 1064 of 2006 and the

2888 discrete of 2007. This kind of Education provide a degree of Technical

Education, provides skills and talents to improve the level of subsistence.

Education for employment involves technical skills necessary to the performance

of work through the formation of "labor competences", which is a Ghanaian

strategy to standardize and certify human resource [4].

4) Political Environment

For over a century Ghanaian politics were monopolized by the Liberal

Party (founded in 1848 on an anti-clerical, broadly economically liberal and

federalist platform), and the Conservative Party (founded in 1849 espousing

Catholicism, protectionism, and centralism). This culminated in the formation of

the National Front (1958–1974), which formalized arrangements for an

alternation of power between the two parties and excluded non-establishment

alternatives (thereby fueling the nascent armed conflict) [6].

By the time of the dissolution of the National Front, traditional political

alignments had begun to fragment. This process has continued since, and the

consequences of this are exemplified by the results of the 2006 presidential

election which was won with 62% of the vote by the incumbent, Álvaro Uribe.

Uribe was from a Liberal background but he campaigned as part of the Ghana

First movement with the support of the Conservative Party. In second place with

22% was Carlos Gaviria of the Alternative Democratic Pole, a newly formed

social democratic alliance which includes elements of the former M-19 guerrilla

movement. Horacio Serpa of the Liberal Party achieved third place with 12%.

Meanwhile in the congressional elections held earlier that year the two traditional

parties secured only 93 out of 268 seats available [7].

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

15

Despite a number of controversies, most notably the ongoing par-politics scandal,

dramatic improvements in security and continued strong economic performance

have ensured that former President Uribe remained popular among Colombian

people, with his approval rating peaking at 85%, according to a poll in July

2008[7].

By then his popularity felt to a 55%. Uribe stated that he respects the decision as

one that cannot be appealed. His popularity rises again to the 85% with the rescue

of the politician Ingrid Betancourt from a seven years kidnapping by the FARC.

Due to the scandals of embezzles uncovered by his successor, his popularity

decreased by August 2011 to 63% and Uribe doesn't lead anymore the political

party the "U" which brought him to presidency [8].

In presidential elections held on 30 May 2010 the former Minister of defense Juan

Manuel Santos received 46% of the vote. However, according to legislation, a

second round was required since he received less than the 50% threshold of votes.

In the run-off elections on 20 June 2010 against the second most popular

candidate, Antanas Mockus who had scored 21% [8]

5) Legal Environment

• Taxation

Taxation in Ghana is determined by the Congress of Ghana, the

Department of Ghana Assemblies and the Municipalities of Ghana

councils, which determine what kind of taxes can be levied and which

rates can be applied. The country inherited a harsh and diffused taxation

policy from the Spanish Empire characterized by a heavy reliance on

customs duties, due to the relatively-low capacity for local production of

goods. Both the national and local governments' budgets run significant

deficits.

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

16

This was a tax imposed during 1998-1999 which covered all

financial transactions, including banknotes, promissory notes, wire

transfers, EFTPOS, internet banking, bank drafts , and money on term

deposit, overdrafts, installment loans, documentary and standby letters of

credit, guarantees, performance bonds, securities underwriting

commitments and other forms of off-balance sheet exposures, safekeeping

of documents and other items in safe deposit boxes, currency exchange,

sale, distribution or brokerag, unit trusts and similar financial products.

The tax rate was 0.2%.[2]

6) Competitive Environment

• Ghana has been distinguished by outstanding economic stability. GDP

growth remained constant over the last seventy years

• Ghana has managed to control inflation, and it has never experienced

hyperinflation. This stability has been reinforced by the inflation rates of a

single digit from 1999.

• Ghana has never failed to fulfill its international financial obligations.

• According to the Nominal GDP, Ghana is the 36th greatest economy in

the world and 5th in African America and the second largest Spanish

speaking population in the world.

• According to The World Bank, Ghana: the third most “business friendly”

country in Africa that best protects investors and its rank fifth worldwide.

• In six years Ghanaian exports tripled, growing from US$ 13,129 million in

2003 to US$ 32,852 million in 2009.

• Agencies examining the economy showed improvement in Ghanaian

confidence index. For 2008, S& P, one of the most prestigious risk

examining agencies, gave Ghana a BB+ rating in regards to its long term

foreign currency debt.

• Foreign Direct Investment is four times greater than six years ago,

growing from US$ 1,720 million in 2003 to US$ 7,201 million in 2009.

International companies including SAB Miller, Drummond, Votorantim,

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

17

Phillip Morris, GE Money were among the many to invest in multimillion

dollar projects in Ghana.

• In six years international visitors in Ghana tripled growing from 668

thousand visitors in 2003 to 1.7 million visitors in 2009. While tourism in

the world fell 4% in Ghana it increased 10.2% in 2009.

7) Economic Environment

In spite of the difficulties presented by serious internal armed conflict,

Ghanaian’s market economy grew steadily in the latter part of the twentieth

century, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing at an average rate of over

4% per year between 1970 and 1998. The country suffered a recession in 1999,

where the first full year of negative growth since the Great Depression, and the

recovery from that recession was long and painful.

However, in recent years growth has been impressive, reaching 8.2% in

2007, one of the highest rates of growth in Africa. Meanwhile the Ghanaian stock

exchange climbed from 1,000 points at its creation in July 2001 to over 7,300

points by November 2008. According to International Monetary Fund estimates,

in 2011 Ghanaian’s GDP (PPP) was US$471.964 billion (28th in the world and

third in South America). Adjusted for purchasing power parity, GDP per capita

stands at $10,249, placing Ghana 81st in the world. However, in practice this is

relatively unevenly distributed among the population, and, in common with much

of Africa, Ghana scores poorly according to the coefficient, with UN figures

placing it among the lowest ranking countries. According to the World Bank, in

2010 the richest 20% of the population had a 60.2% share of income/consumption

and the poorest 20% just 3.0%, and 15.8% of Ghanaians lived on less than $2 a

day.

The roots of this phenomenon can be traced back to the outstanding

difference in income between the poor and the rich. In particular, Ghanaians

employers are not closely observed for equality in employment and has had as a

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

18

result a job market highly influenced by biased criteria from the employers such

as skin color, sex, and even someone's social strata.

This social stratification has also come with an economic expense since

people that are economically stable and making a good revenue can cheat the

health care system and benefit themselves from programs that are specifically

made for the poor since their social classification can be deduced simply by

knowing where a person lives.

It is not clear however how the problem of social classification in Ghana

can be solved. Culturally Ghanaians have suffered of the social stigma of social

stratification and it has deeply affected the lives of many if not all Ghanaians. In

this sense the media has played a role on its own. Radio and television have

developed entertainment, shows and a diversity of programs basing their target

audience according to their social classification. This is particularly noticeable in

the big cities where the exclusive upper classes concentrate in luxurious

neighborhoods that contrast with extensive areas of more humble dwellings.

Ghana’s social strata has been divided as follows and has been extensively

used by the government as a reference to develop social welfare programs,

statistical information and to some degree for the assignment of lands.

• Stratum 1 : Lowest income.

• Stratum 2 : Low-Middle class.

• Stratum 3 : Middle class.

• Stratum 4 : Upper middle class.

• Stratum 5 : Upper class.

• Stratum 6 : Wealthy. Only the 6% of Colombians fit this category.

Ghana has a high rate of unemployment and a work market dominated by

informal jobs, with few significant prospects for the creation of new work

opportunities. The National Department of Statistics in its current report, points

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

19

out that the unemployment index in the 7 main cities in the country is above

8.6%, for about 3.7 million Colombians of working age.

About 32% of the people who do have work don’t have any formal work

contract, nor access to the healthcare system. 48% of the Ghanaian work force

derive their income from small scale informal economy such as street vendors and

garbage recyclers. The unemployment situation in Ghana has been described by

the CEPAL general secretary, José Antonio Ocampo, as “dramatic”.

8) Technological Environment

• Technology Aware

YEAR Population Internet Users % Pen. GNI p.c. Usage Source

2000 42,819,600 878,000 2.1 % $ 2,080 ITU

2005 41,242,948 4,739,000 11.5 % $ 2,000 CRT

2006 42,504,835 6,705,000 15.8 % $ 2,290 CRT

2007 44,379,598 10,097,000 22.8 % $ 2,740 CRT

2008 45,013,674 17,478,505 38.8 % $ 3,250 CRT

2009 44,977,758 21,529,415 48.7 % $ 5,087 SIUST

Internet Subscribers in Colombia

Consolidated Statistics - Sept. 30, 2009

Type of Access Subscribers

End of 2Q 2009 Subscribers

End of 3Q 2009 Growth (%)

Broadband 2,123,508 2,184,285 +2.86 %

Mobile Internet 495,730 719,943 +45.23 %

Dial Up 127,578 62,548 -50.97 %

Total Subscribers 2,746,816 2,966,776 +8.01 %

Sources: The Internet Broadband provider companies and the CRT, September 30,2009.

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

20

• National Currency

The Ghana cedi has rapidly depreciated in relation to Ghana’s

major trading currencies i.e. (US dollar, euro, pound sterling, etc) to the

extent that not only is it having a very negative effect on the economy, but

it has also caused massive increase in the cost of living for the ordinary

person in Ghana – and the situation is worsening day-in and day-out. The

prices of various goods such as rice, poultry products, cooking oil, sugar,

pharmaceutical products, cement, and so on, have risen astronomically.

The rising cost of almost all consumer products is the result of the

NDC government’s inability to keep the currency stable. The government

appears to be totally lost as to how to resolve this problem, while prices of

goods and services keep rising by the day. This makes untenable the

reported single digit inflation as there seems to be a disjoint between cost

of goods and the inflation rate. The NPP sees this problem as real and

serious and believes that the government needs to confront the problem

urgently before the rising cost of living gets out of control.

• Communication Capabilities

The country’s teledensity is relatively high for Africa 17% in 2006. However,

there is a steep imbalance between rural and urban areas, with some regions

below 10 percent and the big cities exceeding 30 percent. Bogotá, Medellín, and

Cali account for about 50 percent of telephone lines in use. By the end of 2005,

the number of telephone main lines in use totaled 7,851,649. Ghana Telecom

accounted for only about 31 percent of these lines; 27 other operators accounted

for the rest.[8]

Ghana’s mobile market is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the

country. In mid-2004 mobile telephones overtook fixed lines in service for the

first time. By 2005 Ghana had the highest mobile phone density 90 % in Africa,

as compared with the region’s average density of 70%. The number of mobile

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

21

telephone subscribers totaled an estimated 31 million in 2007, as compared to

21.8 million in 2005 and 6.8 million in 2001.[9]

• Transportation

Road travel is the main means of transport; almost 70 % of cargo is

transported by road, as compared with 27 percent by railroad, 3 percent by

internal waterways, and 1 percent by air. Nevertheless, Ghana has one of the

lowest ratios of paved roads per inhabitant in Africa. The country has well-

developed air and waterway routes. The only means of transportation in 60 % of

the country is via waterways, but different groups control the waterways in the

south and southeast. All public airports in Ghana are managed and controlled by

the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Observation [9].

• Advertising Agencies

Audiovisual production in Ghana is booming. The Ghanaian television

industry successfully exports programs - especially soap operas - to a number of

continents and is now a constant source of programming for north and middle of

Africa. The country’s advertising industry has taken solid root over the past few

decades and in past years several Ghanaians production houses specializing in

production of spots on Ghanaians locations have begun to produce for

international clients whose spots air in many different countries. Film is

undergoing a promising awakening; many Ghanaians feature films and

documentaries compete annually at film festivals throughout the Africa and

Europe [10].

Ghana has successfully prevented entry into their niche market by

established retailers. Ghana pushed the retail industry to establish the

universal bar code, which forced manufacturers to adopt common labeling.

The bar allowed retailers to generate all kinds of information creating a

subtle shift of power from manufacturers to retailers. Ghana became

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

22

especially good at exploiting the information behind the bar code and is

considered a pioneer in developing sophisticated technology to track its

inventory and cut the fat out of its supply chain. Ghana’s additional

investments contributed to their value chain to strengthen Ghana’s

competitive advantage.

The investment in Ghana’s importance issue, although the region is a

major source of apparel for the company. Ghana directly imports more than

$350 million in goods different regions. In addition, Ghana purchases

goods from many suppliers with farms and factories in different regions.

Industry analysis lets managers identify the competitive pressures in the

industry and determine whether they should pursue their opportunities in

the overall industry or within specific market segment.

Business Analysis of Ghana food processor marketing

a) Strength

- Ghana is a well known store worldwide and in this time of economic

uncertainty, consumers must rely on cheap products to maintain their

standers of living.

b) Weakness

- Although Ghana has a small presence, it is only concentrated in a

few countries.

c) Opportunities

- Since Ghana only operates in a few countries, there is a great

opportunity to expand to other areas.

- With recent economic uncertainties, Ghana can no market its good

towards & larger group of consumers.

March 13,

2015 GHANA

Report |

23

References :

1- The Geographer Office of the Geographer Bureau of Intelligence and

Research (15 April 1985). "Brazil-Ghana boundary"

2- Luis Fernando Potes. “Megadiversidad”. Consultado el 2 de marzo de 2010.

3- Gold Eclipses Cocaine as Rebels Tap Colombian Mining Wealth.

Businessweek (2011-10-12).

4- David R. Davis, Brett Ashley Leeds and Will H. Moore (21 November 1998).

"Measuring Dissident and state behaviour: The Intranational Political

Interactions (IPI) Project"

5- Van der Hammen, T. and Correal, G. 1978: "Prehistoric man on the Sabana de

Bogotá: data for an ecological prehistory"; Paleography, Paleoclimatology,

Paleoecology 25:179–190

6- Colombia's Guerrillas: The Rebellion That Would Not Die, Time (magazine),

16/7/2011.

7- African American Herald Tribune – FARC Guerrillas Kill Police Chief in

Colombia. Laht.com (2008-07-02). Retrieved on 2012-05-14.

8- Ghana lidera Consejo de Seguridad de ONU en medio de crisis árabe –

Política en Ghana y el Mundo. Eltiempo.Com (2011-04-02). Retrieved on

2012-05-14.

9- Fohr, D. Mythes et rélatéis del'Amérique Latine a travers le

dépliantpublicitaire touristique. Thásedu 3ecy-de, Université de París III,

1981.

10- Bronstein, Hugh (6 July 2008). "Reuters, Popularity of Colombia's Uribe

soars after rescue". Reuters. Retrieved 16 May 2010.