Ghana was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade - first in gold, later in slaves.
It was also the first black African nation in the region to achieve independence from a colonial power, in this instance Britain.
Ghana was the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade - first in gold, later in slaves.
It was also the first black African nation in the region to achieve independence from a colonial power, in this instance Britain.
Despite being rich in mineral resources, and endowed with a good education system and efficient civil service, Ghana fell victim to corruption and mismanagement soon after independence in 1957.
In 1966 its first president and pan-African hero, Kwame Nkrumah, was deposed in a coup, heralding years of mostly-military rule. In 1981 Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings staged his second coup. The country began to move towards economic stability and democracy.
In April 1992 a constitution allowing for a multi-party system was approved in a referendum, ushering in a period of democracy.
A well-administered country by regional standards, Ghana is often seen as a model for political and economic reform in Africa. Cocoa exports are an essential part of the economy; Ghana is the world's second-largest producer.
The discovery of major offshore oil reserves was announced in June 2007, encouraging expectations of a major economic boost. However, oil is not expected to flow for some years.
Ghana has a high-profile peacekeeping role; troops have been deployed in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and DR Congo.
Although Ghana has largely escaped the civil strife that has plagued other West African countries, in 1994-95 land disputes in the north erupted into ethnic violence, resulting in the deaths of 1,000 people and the displacement of a further 150,000.
President: John Kufuor
John Kufuor won a second term in December 2004, in a presidential poll praised for being well-run and orderly.
He came to power in the presidential ballot in December 2000, Ghana's first peaceful transfer of power from one elected government to another. He succeeded the long-time ruler Jerry Rawlings.
Known as the "Gentle Giant", Mr Kufuor has made economic growth a priority. During his first term, inflation and borrowing costs fell.
He has also taken a leading role in mediating in regional conflicts, including those in Liberia and Ivory Coast.
Born in 1938, Mr Kufuor is a devout Roman Catholic. A lawyer who studied at Oxford, he held positions as deputy foreign minister and as secretary for local government.
Ghana has a parliamentary form of government. The president serves four-year terms and chooses the cabinet.
Ghana enjoys a high degree of media freedom and the private press and broadcasters operate without significant restrictions. The Commonwealth Press Union has described Ghana's media as "one of the most unfettered" on the continent.
The private press is lively, and often carries criticism of government policy. Animated phone-in programmes are staple fare on many radio stations.
Radio is Ghana's most popular medium, although it is being challenged by increased access to TV.
Scores of private FM stations crowd the dial; many of them are based in the main towns and cities. Most of them are chasing a limited amount of advertising revenue. State-run Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) runs national TV and radio networks.
The BBC is available on 101.3 FM in the capital, where there are also relays of Radio France Internationale and the Voice of America.
Nearly one third of Ghanaians have access to the internet, and mobile telephones are becoming a significant source of news.
The press
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