In the last two decades, poverty in Ghana has drastically reduced due to an increase in economic factors, despite poverty still dominating more rural areas where there is not enough access to food and other basic necessities. 

Top 10 Facts about Poverty in Ghana

1. Between the years 1991 and 2012, the poverty rate in Ghana has been cut by more than half, from 52 percent to 21 percent.
2. In 2011, the country was considered to have a middle-class economy. Ghana accomplished such status by obtaining a more skilled labor force and geographical mobility.
3. Despite the booming economic growth, poverty in Ghana is still prevalent. Poverty has shifted from urban areas to now more rural areas of the country; in fact, rural poverty is almost four times higher than urban poverty.
4. According to UNICEF, the poverty reduction rate has declined in recent years. There is only a 1.1 percent reduction rate per year since 2006.
5. The northern region of the country makes up the largest number of citizens in poverty in Ghana. Since the 1990s, the poverty rate in the northern region has dropped from 55 percent to 50 percent.
6. In Ghana, children are 40 percent more likely to live in poverty than adults. UNICEF states that 1.2 million households are unable to supply an adequate amount of food for their children.
7. Overcrowding and homelessness are some of the many reasons for poverty in Ghana. According to Habitat for Humanity, many houses in the country lack ventilation and basic amenities.
8. In more rural areas, outbreaks of cholera are common from lack of inside toilets in homes. Using the bathroom outside or in public pits contributes to the passing of hazardous diseases.
9. The World Food Program reports that twenty-seven percent of households are at risk of hunger in Ghana. About a third of the population is living on less than $1.25 a day, which means obtaining food is extremely difficult.
10. In 2006, infant mortality rates were cut by half, although healthcare is still poor in the country. The northern regions only have nine percent of hospitals even though it holds a majority of the population. Citizens in the northern region of Ghana have to travel far distances to reach hospitals and travel costs can be high.

Combating Challenges

Ghana is continuing to grow despite its problems with poverty. In fact, the nation is considered to have one of the world’s fastest growing economies in the world. At the end of 2017, the economy increased for the fifth successive quarter.

The economy has increasingly focused on agricultural growth, which has created more jobs. Ghana’s government has also been spending money on educating workers that in return will create more money for the country. One of Ghana’s greatest challenges for the future is spreading development evenly throughout the country, and one can only wish Ghana success in combating such an issue.

– McKenzie Hamby
Photo: Unsplash