Results around the world – Ghana
Ghana has achieved significant progress in the reduction of poverty, achieving lower-middle-income country status in 2010, and emerging as one of the fastest growing economies in Africa in 2018. However, recent growth has mostly benefited the wealthiest segments of the population, contributing to growing inequalities across the country. While the national poverty rate has been reduced to 24%, some parts of northern Ghana still have a poverty rate of up to 71%. In addition, the poorest segments of the population lack reliable access to basic public services. For example, only 15% of Ghanaians have access to adequate sanitation services, which contributes to poor health outcomes and child mortality.
Gender equality also remains a concern. Although Ghana’s leaders recognize that gender inequality must be addressed in order for the country to achieve its sustainable development goals, women of all social strata continue to face significant barriers to the attainment of their full rights. Women’s opportunities are limited by gender and sexual-based violence (three out of four women report experiencing some form of violence), as well as child, early and forced marriage (one in five girls marry before 18). Women also lack equal access to knowledge and skills training, economic resources, assets and benefits, including ownership and property rights, and women’s political representation is particularly low with only 13.5% of parliamentary seats held by women.
To address these needs, Canada focuses on promoting growth that works for everyone. Programming supports agriculture as an engine for inclusive growth and as an important area of investment to address the needs of Ghana’s poorest families. It supports climate-smart, resilient agriculture, specifically targeting women farmers.
Canada also contributes to increased effectiveness of social services delivery and social protection for the poorest and most vulnerable. Canada supports improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services as a means of advancing human dignity. Programming across all sectors emphasizes women’s empowerment and aims to address the key barriers to the attainment of their full rights. New programming also seeks to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services for adolescents and to increase women’s engagement in local government decision-making processes.
Canada continues to be a top donor of several global initiatives that benefit Ghana, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance and the Global Partnership for Education.
Key results
In 2017-18:
- Canada’s support allowed agricultural extension teams to establish 2,534 accessible community demonstrations sites across the country, reaching 127,848 farmers (41% women) and exposing them to new and locally adapted farming techniques and inputs. In addition, 29,244 women members of farmer cooperatives saw their annual incomes increase nearly tenfold after receiving training on good agronomic practices, financial services and business management.
- Canada’s investments in social protection equipped public officials, adolescents and children – both girls and boys – with information related to curbing child marriage. In terms of improved access to basic services, 200 additional schools now have access to clean drinking water and 73 additional communities have achieved open-defecation-free status. In addition, gender-sensitive sanitation facilities are now available in 221 schools, and 91,217 girls and boys attending these schools have received information on menstruation and menstrual hygiene.
