Geography & environment — Ghana
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Ghana: Africa
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Africa
- Geographic Coordinates
8 00 N, 2 00 W
- Total Area
92,098 Square Miles 238,533 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
87,850 Square Miles 227,533 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
4,247 Square Miles 11,000 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,301 Miles 2,094 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
- Coastline
335 Miles 539 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
- Highest Point
880 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Mount Afadjato 880 m
- Lowest Point Location
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower
- Irrigated Land
119 Square Miles 309 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Ghana's climate is tropical with temperatures between 21°C and 32°C (70°F and 90°F). Rainy seasons extend from April to July (heavy rains) and from September to November (light rains). Annual rainfall exceeds 200 centimeters on the coast, decreasing inland. Accra’s annual rainfall averages about 76 centimeters, low for coastal West Africa. The southern part of the country is humid most of the year, but the north can be very dry. It is coolest from May until October. In December the harmattan, a dry dusty wind from the Sahara, covers the country, and lasts through February. The desert wind reduces humidity, and early mornings and nights are relatively cool. Visibility during the harmattan can be poor, as the air is filled with fine dust.
- Terrain
Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
- Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
- Total Area
92,098 Square Miles 238,533 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
- Recurrent drought in the north severely affects agricultural activities
- deforestation
- overgrazing
- soil erosion
- poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations
- water pollution
- inadequate supplies of potable water
- Environment - International Agreements
- Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Signed,
- but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation