GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION:

Ghana, the gateway to Africa is situated right in the heart of West Africa. Its borders extend from the Gulf of Guinea covering a distance of about 672km from the south to the north, and about 540 km from the east to the west. It covers an entire area of about 239, 533 sqkm² (or 92,000 square miles).

The southern coast extends between latitude 4½º N to the west and 6½º N to the east. The country is bordered to the north by Burkina Faso, the east by Togo, the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by Cote d'Ivoire. A narrow grassy plain stretches inland from the coast, widening in the east, while the south and west are covered by dense rainforest. To the north are forested hills, beyond which is dry savannah and open woodland. In the far north is a plateau averaging 500m (1600ft) in height. In the east the Akuapim Togo hills run inland from the coast along the Togo border. The Black and White Volta rivers enter Ghana from Burkina Faso, merging into the largest manmade lake in the world, Lake Volta. Ghana's coastline is dotted with sandy palm-fringed beaches and lagoons.

SEASONS:

Ghana experiences two major seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. There are two main seasons of rainfall in the south starting from April to June and the minor rains from September to October. The northern region experiences a single rainy season from June to October. There is a dry season from November to April.

CLIMATE:

Ghana has a tropical climate, hottest months March, April, 23-31ºC and the coldest month, August 22-27ºC. There are relatively long dry season from mid October to March. Driest month January has a maximum rainfall of 15mm. There are two rainy seasons, from March to July and from September to October, wettest month, June has 178mm average rainfall.

VEGETATION:

Ghana's vegetation can be classified into three zones (a) coastal savannah, tropical rain forest in the central part and the guinea savannah in the north.

FAUNA& FLORA:

The warm sun, the regular rains and the fertile soils join together to give exuberant vegetation. As a result, dense tropical rain forests have over the years being conserved and developed into game reserves and theme parks.

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST:

Ghana used to share a virgin forest of about 85,000km², which has reduced to about 40,000km² due economic and human developmental activities. It is only in the extreme southwest with its wet climate that is left intact. Our deciduous and semi deciduous forests offer both economic and medicinal uses.

THE SAVANNAH:

The savannah, which is the main vegetation in the northern and certain parts of the south, is endowed with birds that are suitable for bird watching and other mammals.