Quick Facts

  • Ghana is the world’s second largest exporter of cocoa, the source of cocoa beans.
  • The overall adult literacy rate is 82% of men and 71.4% of females are literate. 
  • Ghana is home to over 100 different ethnic groups and about 47 local languages are spoken, although English is the official language. 
  • Ghana has a population of around 28 million. 
  • The capital of Ghana is Accra where the oldest university, The University of Ghana, is located. 
  • Ghana has one of the lowest rates of HIV/AIDS in the region: 1.69%. About 65% of Ghana’s HIV/AIDS population are females.
  • Before 1957 Ghana was commonly known as the Gold Coast because of the amounts of gold along the Ankobra and Volta rivers.

Ghana

643 libraries established 

Previously an African Empire and then a British colony, Ghana gained independence from the UK in 1957. It was the first African country to achieve autonomy from colonial rule. Ghana was also the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade – first in gold, later in slaves. Archaeological evidence shows that humans have lived in present-day Ghana since around 1500 BC. Today, Ghana is a model of democracy for the continent and the world.

Education in Ghana: Ghana has one of the highest school enrollment rates in West Africa, with 82% of school-aged children attending school. Despite this, there are about a half of a million children who are not in school due to lack of resources. All classes in Ghanaian schools are taught in English. African Library Project has been active in Ghana since partnering with the Michael Lapsley Foundation in 2011.

Learn More About The Regions We Serve

Kenya flag

Kenya

To walk the land of Kenya is to walk the history of humankind. Did you know some of the earliest fossils of prehistoric humans have been discovered in Kenya? A former British colony, Kenya achieved independence in 1963. Since then, the country has seen vast economic growth both in agriculture and technology.

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Uganda flag

Uganda

Uganda, officially known as the Republic of Uganda, is one of the youngest countries on earth with half of its population under the age of 14. Although control of the country passed to the British Colonial Office in 1905, Uganda was never fully colonized.

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Botswana flag

Botswana

Botswana, a former British protectorate, gained independence in 1966. The country’s economy depended primarily on livestock until the 1970s when Botswana became a major exporter of diamonds. Currently, Botswana has one of the most successful economies and stable democracies in Africa.

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Lesotho flag

Lesotho

Lesotho is a tiny country nestled in the middle of South Africa. Founded as a kingdom in the 1820s, Lesotho was a British protectorate for almost 100 years before regaining independence in 1966. Today, the country is one of the world’s smallest constitutional monarchies known for its beauty and unique culture. Since 2000, primary school education in Lesotho is free and as a result, enrollment has increased.

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Malawi flag

Malawi

Known as “The Warm Heart of Africa”, The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country with a population of 18.7 million. The history of Malawi goes back to the 10th century, when the area was first settled. Today, Malawi is one of Africa’s poorest and most densely populated nations. Malawi’s economy is based on agriculture. Maize (corn) is the country’s main staple food while tea, coffee and sugar are some of its biggest exports.

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South Africa flag

South Africa

South Africa (pop. 60.1 million) gained its independence in 1910. There are eleven official languages including IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Sotho, Afrikaans, and English, the most common languages. South Africa is roughly one-eighth the size of the United States or five times larger than Britain.

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Ghana flag

Ghana

Previously an African Empire and then a British colony, Ghana gained independence from the UK in 1957. It was the first sub-Saharan nation to achieve autonomy from colonial rule. Ghana was also the first place in sub-Saharan Africa where Europeans arrived to trade - first in gold, later in slaves. Archaeological evidence shows that humans have lived in present-day Ghana from about 1500 BC. Today, Ghana is a model of democracy for the continent and the world.

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Sierra Leone flag

Sierra Leone

According to archeological findings, people have been residing in the Sierra Leone for at least 2,500 years. In the sixteenth century Sierra Leone was a very important center for the transatlantic slave trade. However the country’s involvement with the slave trade ended in 1787 after Freetown was established by repatriated former slaves. Due to its rough beginnings, over 70% of the population in Sierra Leone lives under the poverty line.

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