| Country Name | Ghana |
| Full Country Name | Republic of Ghana |
| Former Name | Gold Coast |
| Etymology- history of name | named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name, but whose location was actually further north than the modern country |
| Government Type | presidential republic |
| Capital Name | Accra |
| Capital - geographic coordinate | 5 33 N, 0 13 W |
| Capital Time Difference | UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Independence | 6 March 1957 (from the UK) |
| National Holiday | Independence Day, 6 March (1957) |
| Constitution |
history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 amendments: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to “entrenched” constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent by the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda; amended 1996 |
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