History
Differences in the amount and duration of annual rainfall
have largely been responsible for the country’s
three main vegetation zones, and this, together with other
geographical factors, has influenced the economic and
social history of the different parts of the country.
The savannah grassland to the north of the Volta-Kintampo
scarp, with low annual rainfall, has no forest products
and lacks mineral resources which have considerably influenced
the economic history of the country. Until very recently,
the standard of living of the people living in this zone
did not keep pace with that of people in the southern
part of the country.
On the other hand, the savannah lands have always been
very fertile for crops like yam and have supported animal
husbandry. Lately, with the introduction of mechanized
farming, this zone has become the most important area
for the cultivation of cereals, including rice and guinea
corn.
Stretching along the coastal belt are the plains, with
thickest interspersed in the low grassland. This zone
has areas of swamps, especially near the mouths of the
rivers entering the sea; these swamps feed the growth
of the raffia trees, providing raw materials for some
rural industries, and the mangrove vegetation.
The plains, however, are not fertile enough to grow
crops that thrive in the forest. On the other hand,
the coastal belt sustains abundant yield of vegetables
like onions, peppers, tomatoes, okro, and the garden
eggs. The land is also fertile enough for the coconut
palm and oil palm plantations, resulting in related
industries.
Between the savannah and the coastal lands is the third
vegetation zone, the thick tropical forest, which occupies
about a third of the land surface of the country. This
zone enjoys heavy rainfall and has, therefore, much
growth and vegetation.
It is the area that has provided nearly all the rich
timber and mineral wealth of the country, the principal
crops of cocoa and coffee, as well as the principal
staple food stuffs – the plantain, yam and the
cocoyam.
A tropical country close to the equator; Ghana’s
average monthly temperature ranges between 20 degrees
Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
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