Ghana

Ghana has seen tremendous progress in development and poverty reduction in the last two decades. However, there is still a stark inequality, particularly between people in southern and northern Ghana and between men and women. Over 70 per cent of people in the poor northern regions live on less than $1 a day, compared to the national average of 28 per cent.

Food security: Three in five Ghanaians depend directly on agriculture for a livelihood. Many trade and agricultural policies have been bad for food crop production and smallholder farmers. Nearly 5% of Ghanaians are food insecure, with wide regional disparities. Local communities are experiencing more erratic and extreme weather as a result of climate change.

Healthcare: People in rural areas, especially in northern Ghana, have lower levels of access to essential services such as health care.

Extractive sector: Ghana has a significant endowment of mineral resources, however many local communities are living with the social and environmental costs of these extractive industry projects without enjoying the short-term benefits such as jobs, healthcare and infrastructure.

Oxfam in Ghana

Oxfam has been operating in Ghana since 1986 to bring lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Oxfam’s program focuses on:

• Bridging the gap between progress made in north and south Ghana;
• Sustainable agricultural livelihoods;
• Free universal quality health care;
• Promoting accountable governance and transparency in managing natural resource revenue.