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