Ghana

Context

In 2018, Ghana was among the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world[1] and is currently the second largest economy in West Africa. The country has made tremendous progress in reducing poverty in recent decades. But its success has been uneven and significant inequalities still exist, especially between the south and the north where majority of the population lives on less than $1 a day. Around 24.2% of the national population lives below the poverty line. Ghana ranks 140 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

Inequalities between women and men also continue to be very high. One of the richest men in Ghana earns more in a month than one of the poorest women could earn in 1,000 years. In the decade ending in 2016 the country saw 1,000 new US dollar millionaires created, but only 60 of these were women. A girl from a poor family is 14 times more likely never to have been to school than one from a rich family.[2] 

The real tragedy of Ghana, and indeed of many other countries in the region, is the fact that although it possesses the resources needed to end extreme poverty and even up the disparities that are tearing the society apart, it is failing to do so. 

Oxfam in Ghana

Oxfam has been in Ghana for over 3 decades. Together with our partners, we have built trusted relationships, piloted innovative programmes that have been taken to scale and made concrete changes to legislations, policies and budgets all contributing to a fairer Ghana.

We have enabled women to use their voices to effect change, to provide leadership at the community level and influence laws regulating asset ownership and women’s rights generally.

Our innovations in health and education put thousands of marginalised children in school, enabled girls to tackle sexual harassment and health care to the poorest people in Northern Ghana.

Our Strategic Goals

Just Economy

We advocate for a fair economic system in Ghana. A just economy requires enhancing productivity in areas where women and the poor are concentrated, expanding their access to dynamic sectors such as manufacturing and value-added services and ensuring that revenues generated from our natural resources are equitably and accountably used.

Gender Justice and Social Inclusion

We advocate for social systems to provide women and girls with equal rights and opportunities in Ghana. Gender Justice and Social Inclusion means women have equal rights, equal opportunities and equal access to public services and assets, as men. It also means challenging and changing the patriarchal arrangement that underpin the economic and social systems and entrenched through social conditioning and impenetrable structures of power.

Accountable Governance

We advocate for Ghana’s governance system to be more democratic, inclusive, and accountable. With our Accountable Governance programme, Oxfam will build partners and allies movements to demand and implement change by effectively engaging our policy makers and amplifying the needs and demands of Ghanains through the media. We will engage in dialogue at local, national, regional and global levels backed by robust research and strong evidence.

Contact Oxfam in Ghana