Transcript geographyGhana

• We are group of students from Ghana and to be
precisely the Ashanti region of Ghana, so even though
we will try as much as possible not to center our whole
research on our region only we will let you know
exactly what you asked with regards to our country.
• No history of Ghana can be written without the
Ashantis. The Ashantis are one section of the people
known as the Akans in Ghana. They live in the central
part of the country, about three hundred kilometers
from the coast. The vast territory they occupy in this
position is most densely forested and because of the
richness of forest, lands in soil, minerals (Gold), it is
known to be the richest in the country. Generally, the
Ashantis (Asantes) are very industrious; their innate
desire to live independent lives categorizes them as
"Most Hardworking People". They are extremely
ambitious and determined to succeed in every venture
they undertake.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of
your country’s geographic location?
• Ghana is a tropical country south of the Sahara Desert
in West Africa, with a short 539km long coastline on
the South Atlantic Ocean. The country has a land
area of 239 thousand square kilometers, which places
Ghana as slightly larger than the State of Victoria.
The capital Accra is 5 degrees north of the Equator
and lies nearly on the prime meridian (0 degrees
longitude), due south of London. Thus, Accra time is
eight hours behind Perth time, there being no time
adjustment in summer. Accra can be reached from
Perth on flights via Europe (London, Amsterdam,
Zurich, Frankfurt or Rome) on any day of the week, or
via Johannesburg three times a week.
• The climate is tropical. The eastern coastal belt
is warm and comparatively dry; the southwest
corner, hot and humid; and the north, hot and
dry. There are two distinct rainy seasons in the
south: May-June and August-September,
whereas in the north, the rainy seasons tend to
merge. A dry but gentle, north-easterly wind, the
Harmattan, blows in from the Sahel and the
Sahara Desert in January and February. Annual
rainfall in the coastal zone averages 83
centimeters (33 in.).
• The coastline is mostly a low, sandy shore backed by
plains and scrub and intersected by several rivers and
streams, most of which are navigable only by canoe. A
tropical rain forest belt, broken by heavily forested hills
and many streams and rivers, extends northward from
the shore, near the Cote d'Ivoire frontier. This area
produces most of the country's cocoa, minerals, and
timber. North of this belt, the country varies from 91 to
396 meters (300-1,300 ft.) above sea level and is
covered by low bush, savanna, and grassy plains,
which resemble Northern Australia in character. The
man-made Lake Volta extends from the Akosombo
Dam in south-eastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 520
km (325 mi.) to the north. The lake generates
electricity, provides inland transportation, and is a
potentially valuable resource for irrigation and fish
farming.
• How influential is the geographic location of your country
to its economy?
• The Economy of Ghana depends on the Agricultural sector, and
as said above most of the Regions engage in farm activities
such as fish farming, crop and rearing of farm animals mostly in
the north.
• Those who love nature and the forest reserves in the country
mostly patronize the place for leisure and tourist activities.
• The Portuguese who came to Ghana in the 15th Century found
so much gold between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta that
they named the place Mina - meaning Mine. The Gold Coast
was later adapted to by the English colonisers. Similarly, the
French, equally impressed by the trinkets worn by the coastal
people, named The Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire. In 1482, the
Portuguese built a castle in Elmina. Their aim was to trade in
gold, ivory and slaves. In 1481 King John II of Portugal sent
Diego d'Azambuja to build this castle.
• Now Ghana is among the top gold exporters in the world. The
farm lands also provide cocoa to the world.
• Does it have any positive or negative
influence to your military power?
• Not really. But the Military are mostly base
inland except for the navy which work along the
banks of the rivers of Ghana and the Gulf of
Guinea, thus the southern most part of the
country.
• What kind of contribution does it provide?
• A whole lot as illustrated above, it helps in the
Agricultural sector, Mining, and Industries.
• How will it be possible to change negative
effects into positive ones?
• Most of the effects seem to benefit us
immensely