15 August 2012 Last updated at 07:36 ET

Ghana profile

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media
• Timeline

Ghana has one of the most free media in Africa and a vibrant press

Ghana enjoys a high degree of media freedom and the private press and broadcasters operate without significant restrictions.

The media are free to criticise the authorities without fear of reprisals, says Reporters Without Borders.

The private press is lively, and often carries criticism of government policy. Animated phone-in programmes are staple fare on many radio stations.

Radio is Ghana's most popular medium, although it is being challenged by increased access to TV.

Scores of private FM stations crowd the dial; many of them are based in the main towns and cities. Most of them are chasing a limited amount of advertising revenue. State-run Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) runs national TV and radio networks.

The BBC broadcasts on 101.3 FM in Accra, and on 104.7 FM from Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of Western Region.

There were nearly 2.1 million internet users by December 2011 (Internetworldstats.com). Mobile phones are widely used to access news.

Press

• The Ghanaian Chronicle - private daily
• Daily Graphic - state-owned
• Daily Guide - private
• The Ghanaian Times - state-owned daily
• The Mirror - weekly, sister paper of the Daily Graphic
• The Herald - weekly

Television

• Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) - state-run, operates Ghana TV (GTV) and digital networks, including news channel GBC 24
• Metro TV - jointly owned by government and private company
• TV3 - private
• Viasat1 - private

Radio

• Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) - state-run, operates Radio 1 in English and Ghanaian vernaculars, commercial service Radio 2 and local services including Accra's Uniiq FM
• Adom FM - private
• Peace FM - private
• Joy FM - private
• Choice FM - private
• Space FM - private
• Gold FM - private
• Happy FM - private

News agency/internet

• Ghana News Agency - state-run
• GhanaWeb - news/information portal