Understanding Business and Personal LawChapter 1:
Ethics and the LawA Global PerspectiveGhana
On March 6, 1957, Ghana declared its independence from British colonial rule. Prior to this time, Ghana was called the "Gold Coast." This name was given to Ghana by the Portuguese explorers who discovered gold and other mineral resources such as diamonds, manganese, iron ore, and salt. In addition to the mineral resources, Ghana is known for it forests, fishing, beautiful beaches, and some of the best game reserves in Western Africa.
Ghana is one of the five African nations along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered on the west by Cote d'Ivoire, on the north by Burkina Faso, and on the east by Togo. It is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. English is the official language of Ghana. Sixty-five percent of the population is literate.
After Ghana won its independence in 1957, fraud and internal military strife caused the country to go through a period of volatility in the 1960 and 1970s. Since then, Ghana has been moving toward economic success and political stability and has a promising future. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange.
Ghana is considered a constitutional democracy. It has an elected president and a cabinet that includes the president, vice president, and between 10 and 19 ministers of state. Its Supreme Court consists of the chief justice and four other justices and is the final court of appeal. It has jurisdiction over matters relating to the enforcement or the interpretation of constitutional law.  | 
