Ghana Natural Environment

Ghana is located along the West African coast, has an area of 238,500 sq km.  To its west is Côte d'Ivoire; to its north is Burkina Faso and to its east is Togo.  It is shaped roughly like a rectangle, and measures about 650 km from north to south and 560 km at its widest from east to west.  The southern tip of the country is only about 4 degrees north of the equator, and the Greenwich Meridian passes through Tema in eastern Ghana. 

The elevation throughout the country is generally below 500 m above sea level, with the eastern part of the country having higher elevation.  Mount Afjadto in the east near Togo is the highest point in the country, at 880 m. 

The southern part of the country is characterised by low coastal plains, whereas the northern region of the country is dominated by highlands and plateaus. 

The coast is constantly pounded by surfs from the Atlantic.  Along part of the coast are savannas in the east near Togo. Further inland, the region is often dissected by rivers, valleys and hills, and is rich in resources, including gold, diamond, manganese, timber and agricultural products such as cocoa.  Many parts of this area are suitable for cultivation.  Nearer to the sea are deltas which are often flooded and lagoons. 

Between the northern and the southern regions are low-lying mountain ranges, plateaus, valleys, gorges and rivers which generally descend from the north to the south towards the Atlantic coast.  Parts of this region are covered with deciduous forests and provide suitable environments for subsistence farming and growing of coffee, cocoa, rice and timber.  Some gold mining centres, such as Obuasi and Konongo, are located here as well.