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Country Assessment: Africa

Upgrading of Low Income Settlements 

Country Assessment Report: Ghana

The Country 

Located in West Africa, Ghana is a relatively small country bordered in the north and northwest by Burkina Faso, in the east by Togo and in the west by Ivory Coast. The Gulf of Guinea lies to the south. The area is approximately 238,500 square kilometers and the population is approximately 18 million giving an overall population density of 75 persons per square kilometer. Ghana is a lowland country except for a range of hills on its eastern border. Several rivers and streams cross the sandy coastal plain. The Volta River in the east was dammed with the Akosombo Dam, forming one of the largest lakes in the world. The hydroelectric scheme at the dam generates much of Ghana’s electricity. The climate is tropical with annual rainfall ranging from about 1,000 mm in the north to 2000 mm in the south. The harmattan, a dry desert wind, blows from December to March. 

Ghana is a republic and is a member of the West African economic grouping of countries (ECOWAS). The economy is largely based on agriculture. Ghana was once the world’s largest producer of cacao. Mining, logging, fishing and light industry are also key industries. The Gross National Product per capita is about US$400. 

Following independence from Britain in 1957, the economy of Ghana weakened, resulting in a lack of investment in the provision of new and maintenance of existing infrastructure. This led to a situation of extremely poor municipal infrastructure and urban services throughout the country. In 1992, a new constitution saw the return of the country to democratic rule and multi-party elections were held in 1996 and again in 2000. With the adoption of more market-oriented policies and support of the international community, Ghana’s economy and infrastructure have, in recent years, begun to improve.

Urbanization 

As with many African countries in the region Ghana is rapidly urbanizing. In 1997, about 6.7 million people, an estimated 37 percent of the total population, lived in urban areas. It is estimated that some 1.9 million urban residents live below the poverty line. 

Economic growth in Ghana is bringing about a transition from a predominantly rural to a predominantly urban society. Since 1970, the urban population has consistently grown at a higher rate than the national population. The proportion of the total population living in urban areas rose from 26 percent in 1965 to 35 percent in 1993. At the current urban growth rate of about 4.2 percent per annum the urban population will double in 17 years. Within the ten regions of the country there are a total of 5 cities, 36 towns councils and 185 designated urban areas. Ghana is currently pursuing a policy of decentralization and the Local Government Act of 1993 established 110 Assemblies (either Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assemblies). 

Accra, the capital city, has a population of approximately 2.2 million and accounts for about 25 percent of the urban population. Accra and Kumasi together contain over 40 percent of the total urban population. Regionally, about 60 percent of the urban population is concentrated in Greater Accra and the Ashanti and Eastern Regions, all three of which are located in Southern Ghana.

The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) includes the cities of Accra and Tema (Ghana’s new port town some 20 km to the east of Accra) both of which are located on the south coast. GAMA accounts for approximately 20 percent of GDP and employs about 10 percent of the national work force (one-third of the national urban work force). Accra and Tema house the majority of Ghana’s industries, from microenterprises to large plants. Major financial institutions, government ministries, parastatals, and multinational corporations have their head offices in Accra. Tema is Ghana’s primary port, handling about 75 of all goods shipments.

Full Report: Upgrading of Low Income Settlements Country Assessment Report: Ghana

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