Why in news?
Ghana was in news recently.
Geographical overview
- Ghana lies on the Gulf of Guinea along the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered by Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east and the Atlantic to the south.
- The capital and largest city is Accra. Other major cities include Kumasi and Tamale.
- The country spans a variety of landscapes—from coastal plains and mangrove swamps to forested highlands and savannas.
Physical features
- Mountains: The Akwapim–Togo ranges run north‑east along the eastern border, reaching heights around 900 metres. The country’s highest peak, Mount Afadja (885 m), lies near the Togo border.
- Volta River system: The Volta River (formed by the Black Volta and White Volta) flows south to the Gulf of Guinea. Its dam at Akosombo has created Lake Volta, one of the world’s largest artificial lakes.
- Soils: Ghana’s soils include lateritic and ochrosols in the forest zone, fertile alluvial soils along rivers and Akuse clays in wetland areas.
- Climate: Tropical; the south experiences two rainy seasons (April–June and September–November), while the north has one. Harmattan winds from the Sahara cause dry conditions between December and February.