Country explorer: Ghana

Ghana has witnessed substantial economic growth and significant reductions in poverty, marked by improvements in GDP per capita, a varying but generally decreasing unemployment rate, and a struggling yet ongoing fight against inflation, positioning it both as a beacon of progress and a continuing work in progress among its lower-middle-income country peers.

Ghana has exhibited a significant demographic transformation characterized by steady population growth, fluctuating net migration patterns, a gradually declining fertility rate, and an incremental increase in life expectancy, aligning with trends observed in many lower-middle-income countries but distinctively maintaining higher life expectancy and lower fertility rates compared to some of its regional peers like Nigeria.

Ghana has shown steady progress in improving access to basic needs, including clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed drinking water and sanitation facilities, reflecting broader socio-economic growth and infrastructure development common among its lower-middle-income peers.

Ghana has showcased significant advancement in human development, marked by a consistent rise in the Human Development Index, a substantial reduction in child mortality, improved literacy rates, and gains in average learning-adjusted years of schooling, reflecting broad societal progress that aligns with trends observed in other lower-middle-income countries.

Ghana has experienced a significant decline in per capita CO₂ emissions, including land-use change, and reductions in renewable freshwater per capita, while showing progressive trends in forest area conservation and diversification of electricity production towards renewable sources, highlighting a unique journey towards environmental sustainability compared to many of its peers.

Ghana has shown a robust increase in internet use and mobile phone subscriptions, alongside a modest growth in scientific publications, indicating a gradual but steady ascent in technological engagement and innovation, aligning with broader trends observed in lower-middle-income countries.

Ghana has showcased steady progress in societal well-being as evidenced by a gentle decline in gender inequality and age dependency ratio, alongside an increase in self-reported life satisfaction, distinguishing it through a resilient advancement in contrast with some of its African peers.

Ghana has demonstrated notable progress in enhancing rule of law, reducing corruption perception, and improving political civil liberties and press freedom, distinguishing itself as a beacon of governance improvements in contrast to the mixed progress observed in its regional peers and lower-middle-income countries.