Ghana has few industries. In addition to food processing, textiles, vehicles, cement, paper, and chemicals are manufactured. A petroleum refinery and an aluminum smelter are located at Tema. The Volta River Authority's Akosombo hydroelectric generating plant and a smaller plant located downstream at Kpong supply Ghana's electricity. Exports of electricity to Benin and Togo ceased in 1984 because of low water levels on Lake Volta.
Gold is the principal mineral export.
In 1992 earnings from gold exports exceeded those of cocoa for the first time, making it Ghana's leading export. Industrial diamonds and some bauxite also are mined, but the aluminum smelter at Tema uses bauxite imported from Jamaica. Petroleum from offshore deposits in the Gulf of Guinea has been produced since 1978. Ghana imports most of its crude petroleum from Nigeria and Libya. Accra is the capital and largest city, with a population of more than 1 million.