OBJECTIVES:  As in many other developing countries of the world, mental health research in Ghana has received little attention. The epidemiology of the disease and the actual prevalence in the general population are virtually unknown.  Few small scale studies have identified factors associated with depression in the country. Nonetheless, because of their limited scope, quality and scale of these studies, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding factors associated with depression in a general population. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to examine the prevalence of self-reported depression among adults (age > 18) and analyze the association between demographic, socio-economic, health conditions, and life-style practices and presence of depression in a West African country (Ghana) using 2002 World Health Survey. METHODS: Cross-sectional design was used. Data were extracted from the World Health Survey for the year 2002. Based on an algorithm developed by Ayuso-Mateos and colleagues using World Health Survey, we combined depressive episode, brief episode and subsyndromal depression to measure presence of depression. Chi square statistics and logistic regressions were utilized to examine the relationship between self-reported depression and demographic, socio-economic, health conditions, and life-style practices in Ghana. RESULTS:  Overall, 11.9% adults reported depression.  Logistic regression on presence of depression revealed that women were more likely to have depression compared to men (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.13, 1.89).  Among other factors, those with chronic conditions (arthritis and heart disease) were more likely to have depression compared to those without these conditions.    CONCLUSIONS:  This study confirms the gender differences in prevalence of depression.  The relationship between chronic conditions and depression highlights the need for medical and behavioral treatment integration in Ghana.