Country Profile
From The Report: Ghana 2016
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One of the principal attractions of Ghana as an investment destination is its status as one of the most well-governed and stable states in the region. It has been more than two decades since the multiparty system was re-established by a new constitution, and during this time there has been a consolidation of democratic principles, the establishment of greater trust in the nation’s independent judiciary and the development of a vibrant parliament that has proven itself an effective forum for legislative activity.
This chapter includes a viewpoint from President John Dramani Mahama, and interviews with Cecilia Malmström, EU Trade Commissioner, and Alan Yarrow, Lord Mayor of the City of London.
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Natural wealth: Growth in regional leadership has been informed by an abundance of resources and a rich history
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One of the principal attractions of Ghana as an investment destination is its status as one of the most well-governed and stable states in the region. It is now more than two decades since the multiparty system was first re-established by a new constitution, and during this time there has been a consolidation of democratic principles in the country, greater trust in the nation’s independent judiciary and the development of a vibrant parliament that has proven itself an effective forum of legislative…
Partner work: A history of diplomacy has solidified ties around the globeOBGplus
Ghana has long had an outsized presence on the diplomatic stage. This can be seen not only in the country’s role in multilateral organisations, but also in the strategic way it has cultivated links with some of the world’s largest economies. History Of Pragmatism The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the nation’s diplomatic missions abroad are tasked with advising the government on foreign policy issues and securing policy objectives, and they do so according to Article 40 of the 1992 Constitution.…
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Kente cloth is as symbolic of Ghana as kimonos are of Japan. Yet some practices and beliefs, though considered traditional, have no place in the world today, and they should not be permitted a place in the world of the future. Among those traditions are the ones that refuse individuals – particularly women and children – their basic rights and force them into situations that leave them vulnerable to poverty, disease and other hardships. Most of the world’s poorest are women. We are…
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Moving forward: The key future goals of ECOWAS are economicOBGplus
The primary regional body of East Africa, ECOWAS, represents a grand ambition. Dedicated to establishing a single currency and Customs union, with fully integrated economies and open borders, the path ahead is a challenging one. The tribulations of the EU bear witness to the complexity of establishing a truly common market, and the idiosyncrasies of West Africa make the task no less difficult. It is a region in which it is easier to import goods from Europe than to trade with neighbours, and where…
Joint effort: OBG talks to Cecilia Malmström, EU Trade CommissionerOBGplus
Interview:Cecilia Malmström Which parts of the ECOWAS economic partnership agreement (EPA) proved to be most difficult to negotiate, and how were they finally resolved? CECILIA MALMSTRÖM: You have to bear in mind that the West African EPA group has the largest number of countries of all groups, with 16 countries that are diverse from economic and development points of view. Reaching common positions among such a large number of diverse participants was a big challenge, especially since…
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Decentralisation is an increasingly common trend throughout African countries, and Ghana is no exception. Over the past two decades, the country has taken significant steps to improve and empower local and regional governance, although the issue has been brought into sharper focus in the last five years with the discovery and production of the country’s first hydrocarbons resources. The equitable distribution of this new found wealth is a source of great debate, and has highlighted existing disparities…
