Young Life Ghana

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence in 1957. Well-endowed with natural resources, agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of GDP, and employs more than half of the workforce. Gold and cocoa exports are the major sources of foreign exchange. With a population of over 31 million people, 42% of which are under the age of 18, 71% of people identify as Christian. About 17% identify as Muslim and the rest with a traditional indigenous religion. English is the official language of Ghana, but there are a variety of local African languages that are spoken as well. Coastal towns Elmina and Cape Coast contain native shrines, colonial buildings and museums that serve as a reminder to the slave trade that dominated the country for 300 years. Ghana has traditionally been viewed as a model of African growth, yet since 2013 its economy has endured a growing public deficit, high inflation and weakening currency.