Development of the United Kingdom Essay

Officially know as the Republic of gold coast, it was Europes first trading follower in sub-Saharan Africa initially trading in gold and hence later as a primary supplier of slaves. Although it was subsequently colonise by the British, it later became the first hoidenish in Africa to obtain independency from its colonizer (BBC News). Ghana came into existence in 1957 when what was then known as the Gold Coast acquired its independence from the British. Situated along the Gulf of wop in West Africa (see U. S. State De failment map reproduced beneath), the country occupies an celestial orbit of about 238,538 sq.km. composed of plains, rainforest, and some scrubland (U. S. State Department). Its capital city is capital of Ghana (population 3 million) and the different principal cities are Kumasi, with an estimated population of 1 million, Tema (500,000), and Sekondi-Takoradi (population 370,000). English has been designated official language of the Ghanaians but several dialec ts are spoken bid Akan, which is spoken by about 49% of the population, Mole-Dagbani (16%), Ewe (13%), Ga-Adangbe (8%), and Guan, the dialect of 4% of the population. cardinal percent of its estimated population of 23 million are Christians while 15. 6% are Muslims. Indigenous religious beliefs are beingness practiced by 8. 5% of Ghanaians. Although it existed as a democratic republic since its independence in 1957, the constitution of Ghana took effect only on January 7, 1993 (U. S. State Department). The pagan practices of Ghanaians which are mainly related to conception, childbirth, and childrearing consist of some harmful customs and traditions. One of these is female genital mutilation (FGM). This is a procedure which is conducted to partially or fundamentally remove the external genitalia of a girl to swordplay her into a real woman. Another is a belief in dietetical taboos which often leads to anemia or nutritional deficiency on the part of pregnant women. In Ghana, wh en a marriage does not produce an military issue afterward two eld, it is considered defective. After a woman gives birth, the Ghanaians believe that entombment the placenta near the house of the family would prevent the child from growing up into an fallible or rebellious individual.In addition, they would wait for eight days after birth before naming the child and treating the umbilical cord with herbal tea preparations (Nyinah). Ghana is rich in natural resources with gold and cocoa being two of its major dollar earners. Its other export products are feel, diamonds, aluminum, tuna, manganese ore, and bauxite. In spite of this, the country still relies heavily on the helper of international financial and technical institutions to remain viable.Thirty-five percent of its primitive domestic product comes from the agricultural sector which alike accounts for 55% of total employment in the country, mostly in the form of small landowners. excursus from seeking debt relief in 2002 under the Heavily Indebted poor Country (HIPC) program, Ghana was also one of the beneficiaries of the Multilateral Debt Relief endeavor which came into force in 2006 (CIA World Factbook). As of 2006, total exports reached an estimated $3. 9 one million million million while imports totaled $6. 8 billion.Identified trade partners were the get together States, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, France, Spain, Nigeria, the Netherlands, and Togo (U. S. State Department). Statistics gleaned by orbiculate Health Reporting. org from the CIA World Factbook and a line published by UN back up in May 2006 about the global pestilent on AIDS showed that as at end of 2005, an estimated 29,000 had already died from AIDS in Ghana, leaving behind them about 170,000 children below 17 years old who had lost one or both parents to the disease.The same sources also revealed that by the end of 2005, there were 320,000 Ghanaians who were living with HIV/AIDS, 25,000 of whom were children be low 14 years old. Aside from AIDS, another major health concern of the country is malaria. With about three million new cases being reported each year, malaria accounts for approximately 61% of total hospital admissions in the country among children below five years old (Global Health Reporting. org).In its fight against AIDS, malaria, and other diseases which have been plaguing Ghanaians, the country has received varying degrees of support from international organizations such as the World Health Organization, Global Fund To Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank, the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, and the United Nations Childrens Fund (Accra Daily Mail, 3/17 as cited in Global Health Reporting.org). On knock against 17, 2008, a campaign named Voices for Malaria-Free Future was launched in the country to educate the people about the techniques and the key concepts and practices used in fighting malaria. Rosemary Ardayfio, who repre sented the media in the launching ceremony, announced the formation of the Media Malaria Network composed of journalists from the print and online organizations.Ardayfio explained that aside from recognizing the role of the different media organizations in malaria advocacy, the network specifically aims to disseminate information about the use of insecticide-treated nets and detach medication (Global Health Reporting. org). Ghana was among the 177 countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol which aims to require industrialize countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases to prevent global warming (UNFCCC).In addition, Ghana was also a party to other international agreements governing dotty wastes, biodiversity, endangered species, law of the sea, ship pollution, environmental modification, ozone layer protection, wetlands, and tropical timber (CIA World Factbook). The Republic of Ghana faces a bright future. It is endowed with pot of natural resources. Its leadership h as commitment itself to free and compulsory basic education. In fact, its free, compulsory, universal basic education (FCUBE) which was launched in 1996 has been labeled the most pushful pre-tertiary education programs in West Africa (U.S. State Department). It has also been described as a well-administered country by regional standards and considered a model for economic and political reforms in the region. And, most of all, a major oil modesty was discovered in 2007 (BBC News). For these agreements alone, the country and its people have no reason to remain impoverished. Works Cited BBC News. Country profile Ghana. International version. 6 February 2008. 22 March 2008. CIA World Factbook. Ghana. 6 March 2008. 22 March 2008. https//www. cia.gov/depository library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh. html Global Health Reporting. org. Ghana. 22 March 2008. http//globalhealthreporting. org/countries/ghana. asp? collID=11&id=144&malID=187 &tbID=188&hivIC=189&malIC=190&tbIC= 191&map=192&con=Ghana&p=1 Nyinah, S. Cultural practices in Ghana. World Health. March-April 1997. 22 March 2008. UNFCCC. Kyoto Protocol. 22 March 2008. U. S. State Department. Background note Ghana. January 2008. 22 March 2008.