GhanaOVERVIEWGhana is a stable, democratic country with a free press, independent judiciary, apolitical military, and active civil society. Five credible national elections have been held since its return to democracy in 1992. Over the past few years, Ghana has pursued a robust macroeconomic reform agenda, which has resulted in a significant decline in poverty and steady growth in gross domestic product. In 2007, commercial quantities of oil were discovered of the coast of Ghana, whichAccramay provide a revenue steam that could rapidly accelerate growth and move Ghana toward its goal of middle income status by 2020. To sustain these goals, USAID supports good governance, health, education, and economic growth. In 2006, the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $547-million compact with the Government of Ghana, which focuses on agriculture. PROGRAMSGOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY USAID supports Ghana’s efforts to consolidate democracy by strengthening civic participation in democratic processes and ensuring that local and national governments are responsive to the needs and interests of their citizens. Ghana’s decentralization efforts coupled with strong citizen participation will provide the foundation for better delivery of services. USAID programs ensure that local activities are harmonized with central government policies and that local goverments increase their capacity to plan, budget, and implement effectively with citizen input. USAID also continues to enhance civil society’s capacity to advocate and engage with government. USAID is planning initiatives in the Western Region that will be especially critical as oil and gas production will require heightened attention by local governments. INVESTING IN PEOPLE: HEALTHUSAID empowers people and communities to adopt positive health practices, expand access to quality health services, and strengthen institutional capacity. The health program provides technical and financial resources to address family planning, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, malaria, tuberculosis, water and sanitation, and nutrition. It focuses on three regions to address weaknesses in service delivery and system performance. Ghana is a focus of both the President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief and the Presidential Malaria Initiative INVESTING IN PEOPLE: EDUCATIONUSAID works on increasing the percentage of children—especially girls—enrolling in and completing school, ensuring that children who complete primary school are able to read at their grade level, improving the management and accountability of school systems, and increasing community involvement in education. USAID also assists in recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers to teach in short-staffed rural schools. In northern Ghana, USAID supports the establishment of complementary education centers for school-age children, particularly girls, who, for various reasons, are unable to access and participate in formal schools. USAID provides scholarships to girls at risk of not completing their primary education, and funds provided by the Africa Education Initiative are helping to improve literacy. USAID is also assisting the Ministry of Education in developing additional classroom and district education support facilities. A bi-ministerial working group supported by USAID is developing a strategy to expand the social safety net for 33,000 vulnerable children in late primary and junior high school. ECONOMIC GROWTH USAID programs are increasing the competitiveness of Ghana’s private sector to compete in the national, regional, and global marketplace by improving the enabling environment for private sector development, modernizing the agricultural sector; and strengthening the private sector's capacity to produce quality agricultural and agro-processed products. The new Feed the Future initiative will also help the Government of Ghana improve the economic performance of the agriculture sector, improve the nutritional status of Ghanaians, and increase the capacity of vulnerable households to meet their food needs. Finally, technical assistance is being provided to help the Government of Ghana develop plans for strengthening the regulatory framework and increasing its capacity to manage oil and gas resources while maximizing revenues and ensuring their effective management. Back to Top ^
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