Geography

Ghana is located in Western Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea to the south, Cote d' Ivorie to the east, Togo to the west and Burkina Faso to the north. Ghana encompasses 672 kilometers from its northern border to the coast. It has an area of 92,100 square miles [238,540 kilometers]. Its coastline spans 335 miles or 539 kilometers. Its longitude is 200 degrees west of Greenwich and the latitude is 800 degrees north of the Equator. Ghana's climate is tropical. The southwest region is usually hot and humid with larger amounts of yearly rainfall. The southwest coast is relatively warm and dry. In the northern regions it is hot and dry.

Ghana's landmass is made up of plains along the coast to the Kwahu Plateau, which runs across the central part of the country. The southwestern region is covered with thick forests. Northern Ghana is made up of savannas and grasslands. The Republic of Ghana is divided into ten (10) regions, each with a regional capital. Listed alphabetically they are:

Region

Ashanti
Brong-Ahafo
Central
Eastern
GreaterAccra
Northern
Upper East
Upper West
Volta
Western

Regional Capital City

Kumasi
Sunyani
Cape Coast
Koforidua
Accra
Tamale
Bolgatanga
Wa
Ho
Sekondi-Takoradi

Ghana's two largest waterways are Lake Volta, which is 400 kilometers long and covers 8,480 square kilometers, and makes up over 2/3rds of the country. It is the largest man-made lake in the world. Lake Bosumtwi is a round lake, a result of a volcanic crater, and is located south of Kumasi. Other major waterways are the Volta River, Black Volta River, White Volta River, Oti, Afram, Tano, Pra, Ankobra, and the Densu Rivers. The highest mountain in the country is Mount Afadjato at 800 meters. The southwestern region of Ghana is heavily tropically forrested with Kakum National Park.

Ghana's coastal regions are dotted with sandy beaches alternating with steep rocky bluffs and coconut trees surrounding dense tropical growth. Many rivers empty into the ocean and one can see large, brightly painted canoes in lagoons, rivers, bays and ocean. The coastline is also dotted with many ancient fortresses. Takoradi and Tema are Ghana's largest commercial and fishing ports along the 335 miles(539 kilometers) of shoreline.

Anita Trotman, Wood Elementary School

Further Reading: Mylene Remy, GHANA TODAY. THE WORLD BOOK OF ENCYCLOPEDIA.