The Republic of Ghana is a coastal country in western Africa with a tropical climate. The small country, about the size of Oregon, is hot and humid because it borders the Gulf of Guinea. Once called the Gold Coast, Ghana is rich in natural resources including gold, diamonds and rubber. Even though the country is wealthy in resources about 45 percent of Ghana's population live in extreme poverty making less than $1 a day.
Most of Ghana's more than 21 million people live in cities. About 98 percent of the country's population is African, split among six major tribes. But the country is flooded with refugees from its neighbors, war-torn Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo. Sixty-three percent of the country's population is Christian, 16 percent is Muslim and 21 percent follow indigenous beliefs. English is the official language but some people speak native African languages such as Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe and Ga.
Though Ghana was the first British colonial country in Africa to gain its independence, the country has been plagued by political violence since it was established in 1957. Between 1957 and 1979 the country had a series of bloody and bloodless coups. Finally in 1992, a new constitution establishing a multi-party government was adopted and remains in place today.