Ganta
{{For|the town in Burkina Faso|Ganta, Burkina Faso}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Ganta
| other_name = Gompa
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| pushpin_map = Liberia
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Liberia
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = 25px Liberia
| subdivision_type1 = County
| subdivision_name1 = Nimba County
| subdivision_type2 = District
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| government_type = City Council
| leader_title = Mayor/Mayoress
| leader_name = Hon. Amos N. G. Suah
| leader_title1 = Mr. Africanus S. Dolo
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| established_date = 1969
| established_title2 = Gbloryee
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| population_as_of = 2008
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| population_total = 41,106
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| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
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| population_blank2_title = Religions
| population_blank2 = Christian
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 45per sq_mi
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| coordinates = {{coord|7|14|15|N|8|58|53|W|region:LR|display=inline,title}}
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Ganta, also known as Gompa City, is a town approximately {{convert|201|mi|km|order=flip}} from Monrovia in Nimba County of northern Liberia. It is located just south of the Guinea border. It is the second-most populous city in Liberia, with an estimated population of 41,106 as of 2008. A bustling market town, it contains a prominent white mosque, noted for its decorated minarets of carved stars.{{cite book|title=West Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HapewBo3c0C&pg=PA469|year=2009|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-821-6|page=469}}
Geography
It is connected by highway to Zwedru, some {{convert|238|km}} to the southeast.{{cite book|title=Africa South of the Sahara 2004|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jj4J-AXGDaQC&pg=PA616|year=2003|publisher=Europa Publications, Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-183-4|page=616}}{{Google maps | url = https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Zwedru,+Liberia/%277.237500,-8.981389%27/@6.3952273,-9.333822,511126m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m17!4m16!1m10!1m1!1s0xfa341de8504f4a9:0xfc5067938c2ff68c!2m2!1d-8.133333!2d6.066667!3m4!1m2!1d-8.9241379!2d6.9354104!3s0xfa4340960f6ec63:0xca338fd0505b81c4!1m3!2m2!1d-8.981389!2d7.2375!3e0?hl=en | accessdate =8 November 2014}} The Mani River passes through the northern part of the town, marking the border between Liberia and Guinea.
Economy
Ganta is an emerging city with a population of 41,106 as of 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/census_2008provisionalresults.pdf|title=2008 Liberia National Population and Housing Census|publisher=Government of Liberia|accessdate=8 November 2014|archive-date=13 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213110308/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/census_2008provisionalresults.pdf|url-status=dead}} As early as 1983 it was observed by the Foreign Broadcast Information Service that it had the potential to become "one of the most developed and commercial cities in rural Liberia".{{cite book|title=Sub-Saharan Africa Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGIEAQAAIAAJ|year=1983|publisher=Foreign Broadcast Information Service.}} As of 2007 there are five banks in Ganta with other financial institutions. The city contains Jackie's Guest House, the Alvino Hotel, the Beer Garden, Justina Bar and Restaurant etc. In 2004, some 20 acres of land near Ganta were purchased to build a new college, costing $13,500.{{cite book|last=Buor|first=Sei|title=No More War: Rebuilding Liberia Through Faith, Determination and Education|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G11kgbJab1wC&pg=PA123|date=October 2009|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=978-1-4401-5655-7|page=123}}
Healthcare
American Methodist missionary and physician George Way Harley began working in Ganta in October 1925, where he established a new hospital, dispensary, church, school, and several residences.{{cite book | last=Powell | first=William S. | title=Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: Vol. 3, H-K | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gejhoRgwLXwC&pg=PA35|date=28 October 1988 | publisher=University of North Carolina Press | isbn=978-0-8078-6713-6 | page=35}} He found a leper colony there at the time, and established a new Mission in Ganta in 1926.{{cite book|last=Seamands|first=Stephen|title=Give Them Christ: Preaching His Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension and Return | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sK8rEWzyRhEC&pg=PA38 | date=8 March 2012 | publisher=InterVarsity Press | isbn=978-0-8308-6983-1 | page=38}} Ganta Hospital serves 450,000 people in Nimba County and surrounding areas. As of 2008 it had 32 beds, with the expectation to grow to 50.{{cite book | last=Megill | first=Esther L.|title=Return to Africa: A Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yX8cUFEb8vYC&pg=PA112 | year=2008 | publisher=AuthorHouse | isbn=978-1-4343-7528-5 | page=112}}
In September 2014, it was reported that two female victims of the Ebola virus in Ganta, Dorris Quoi and Ma Kebeh, had been "resurrected".{{cite web | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201409240829.html | title=Liberia: Dead Ebola Patients Resurrect? | publisher=AllAfrica.com | date=September 24, 2014}}