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Country Program
Materials
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USAID/Ghana Links
USAID/Ghana Mission
www.usaid.gov/missions/gh
Mission Director:
Local Address:
- E45-3 Independence Avenue
Accra
Ghana
Tel: 233-21-228440, 780580
Fax: 233-21-231937
From the US:
- DOS/USAID
2020 Accra Place
Washington, D.C.
20521-2020
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USAID's Strategy in Ghana While Ghana's political situation remains stable and projected
economic indicators for 2002 show some progress, Ghana continues
to face daunting challenges. In 2002, inflation rates remained
around 16 percent, a major improvement over the 26 percent
rate of the year before. The cedi, Ghana's currency, was
relatively stable for the whole of 2001 and most of 2002.
Although interest rates remain high at 36 percent, the rates
have improved markedly over the year before where they hovered
above 50 percent. In an effort to raise revenues, the Government
of Ghana (GOG) increased water and energy tariffs in 2002
with no apparent political backlash. Yet, at approximately
4 percent, the growth rate has fallen short of the GOG's
projections. With budget deficits consistently higher than
planned, the GOG has borrowed heavily on the domestic market
to fill the gap, diminishing available credit for private
investment. Politically, Ghana continues to enjoy a stable political
environment despite increasing instability in the region.
The deteriorating situation in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire
is cause for serious concern. To date, the numbers of returning
Ghanaians and foreign refugees have been manageable. However,
Ghana is not equipped to handle large refugee flows and could
easily be overwhelmed if the situation were to worsen. The
Government of President Kufuor is committed to supporting
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping
operations in Cote d'Ivoire. On the domestic front, there
are literally hundreds of chieftancy disputes from one end
of Ghana to the other, and many are prone to violence. A
state of emergency has continued in the Dagbon traditional
area in the Northern Region after the killing of the Yendi
traditional leader and 29 of his factional supporters. Other
areas of tension include the Wa, in the Upper West, and Bawku,
in the Upper East, over traditional leadership and political
loyalties. Both have seen violence this past year and intervention
by the security forces. Although basic reforms are in place for acceleration of
decentralization and delegation of responsibility for provision
of many social services to district governments, commitment
at the national level is missing. Key ministries, such as
health and education, have yet to relinquish many central/national
authorities to the districts and planned levels of resources
are not yet available to district assemblies and local authorities.
Local staff capabilities to administer and implement such
programs are still low, as are the number of personnel available
to carry out the work.
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