>> 1. It seems my version is not capable of viewing International data. If I buy Map Point 2006, would I be able to view data from Ghana? Would I first have to download some type of base layer? <<

There are two versions MapPoint and they are about the same price. One includes data for North America and the other includes data for Europe. Neither version has data for Africa. The trial version you have is fully functional, it just stops working after the 60 days or whatever.

>> 2. I attempted to import a shape file of Ghana and got an error. I had added the "COM" add in for importing shape files - source code that came on teh CD with the Map POint for Dummies book. Would this error have come from the fact taht the program couldn't georeference the data or that there was a polygon with a hole in the data (the book mentioned that the import can't handle that)? Unfortunately I don't have the error message available, but will include in my next post. <<

The sample code is not perfect as the book mentioned. You would have to play with the shape files in a GIS like ArcMap or MapInfo Pro to troubleshoot and get the data to import into MapPoint.

However, you might as well use some free GIS viewer that works with the shape files directly. (MapInfo Proviewer?) I don't know if importing the Ghana files into MapPoint gives you any functionality?

>> 3. If I want to upload data from a gps device into map point, should I buy the 2006 version that says it has a gps receiver, or will the regular MapPoint 2006 do? <<

The software is the same, the only different with the one that includes a GPS is that is includes a GPS.

Note that you will probably need some other third-party program to get the data from the GPS into MapPoint, there are some good free tools. e.g. check out CoordEx --http://www.hypercubed.com/projects/coordex/

Hope this helps!
Eric