Ghana
Ghana is an English-speaking country along the coast of West Africa with a rich history. It lies on the Gulf of Guinea between Togo to the east and Cote D’Ivoire to the west. The population of Ghana is approximately 19 million, inhabiting an area roughly the size of Oregon State. It has been referred to as the Gold Coast since the 15th century when the Portuguese arrived, constructing many forts along the ocean and shipping gold back to Europe. This trade expanded to include slave trade, which was very lucrative and attracted other European traders, English, Danes nd Swedes. The Gold Coast became a British crown colony in 1874.
Ghana won independence from Great Britain in March 1957, becoming the first Sub-Saharan African country in West Africa to do so. It is a constitutional democracy with a President. There has been peaceful in the party of power: first, in January 2001 power was transferred from long-time President J.J. Rawlings to John Agyekum Kufuor, and now to President John Evans Atta Mills. It is considered a peaceful, democratic country.
Ghana has a rich tradiction and history, both precolonization and since. It is recommended that you visit the following websites for additional information:
These first two sites will provide an overview of the country and its people.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana
The CIA World Factbook: www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html
This last site is Ghana's official sites which will provide current events in Ghana:
http://ghana.gov.gh
Sekondi-Takoradi
The primary clinic site is in Sekondi. Sekondi is a twin city with Takoradi, which borders it to the west. Combined, Sekondi-Takoradi with a population of 400,000 is the third largest city in Ghana, after the capital Accra in the east and Kumasi in the heart of the Ashanti region to the north. English is the official national language but many people speak only dialects such as Twi, Ewe, Fanti and Ga. In Sekondi, the dominant language is Fanti.
Ghanaian Health Care System
In 2004, Ghana's health care system went from a "cash and carry" system, initiated in 1985, to a national health insurance scheme designed to offer affordable health care, especially to the poor and vulnerable. Ghana's scheme is operated as a multiple one encompassing District Mutual Health Schemes in all of the country's 110 districts, private mutual health insurance and private commercial insurance schemes in order to afford all Ghanaians the opportunity to join a health insurance scheme of their choice. Free primary health care has been available to children under the age of 5 years and to the elderly over 70 years old. There is a government-sponsored program of free immunizations.
There is support for antenatal care through birthing centers staffed by nurse-midwives and through care provided by certified traditional birth attendants. The Government has instituted a policy of strongly encouraging breast-feeding through the first year.
The government maintains a network of hospitals throughout the country. Two are in the Sekondi-Takoradi area. The Regional hospital, the third largest in the country, is located in Takoradi. A smaller community hospital is located in Takoradi.
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