Ghana - 57.92
77
The most advanced, developed nation in West Africa
On the whole, Ghana stands out among its neighbors. It is among three countries in continental West Africa to receive a passing score. It outscored second-place Gambia by sixteen points for the highest democracy score in continental West Africa. Unlike Guinea or Benin, which drift directionless, Ghana has a well-laid-out and defined plan for development. One of the few countries that saw a growing economy through the pandemic, Ghana’s future is very bright. Additionally, Ghana is significantly more competent than most of its neighbors. Lacking the insurgency and border control issues that plague its neighbors, Ghana is significantly more secure than any other country in continental West Africa. While Ghana is by no means wealthy, it has managed to escape some of the extreme poverty that plagues its neighbors and is generally one of the wealthier countries in Africa. Ghana sees significantly higher rates of electricity and running water access than other countries in Africa. Ghana is pointed to as the benchmark for homegrown African development with good reason, but the country still faces some serious issues. Ghana’s laws on homosexuality came under fire in 2021 after the arrests of several LGBT rights activists for unlawful assembly. Ghana is horribly corrupt, and while it has managed development despite this hindrance, consistent issues with corruption still pose an obstacle to Ghana’s development. Malaria remains prevalent despite eradication efforts. Ghana is highly economically disparate and large parts of the population continue to live in poverty. Despite these hindrances, Ghana has something that its neighbors do not - a dream and a realistic way to achieve it.
Human Rights - 64
Ghana has functionally abolished the death penalty; the last execution was carried out in 1993. Prison conditions are awful. Ghana has a total prison capacity of 9,900 but prisons hold over 13,000 people. Prisoners lack adequate access to sanitation, medical, and exercise facilities. In Ghana’s defense, however, the government issued 1555 pardons to first-time offenders who had completed over half of their sentences to mitigate overcrowding during COVID. The government occasionally arbitrarily detains journalists and released them days later without charge. While the government places no formal limits on freedom of the press, it frequently threatens dissenting journalists with frivolous lawsuits. Sodomy of all kinds is illegal in Ghana, including for heterosexuals. By extension, homosexuality is also illegal. Abortion is legal to preserve the physical and mental health of the woman as well as in cases of rape, incest, and fetal impairment. Additional exceptions make abortion legal in almost all cases where accessible.
Democracy - 84
The president and parliament are directly elected. Elections are free and fair but marred by violence. The government does not intimidate voters but communities are known to self-police votes. Ghanaian police reported five deaths and hundreds to thousands of injuries in post-election violence. Partisan vigilante groups are known to attack rival parties. Groups have intimidated smaller opposition candidates out of elections. Candidates are forced to spend large amounts of money on private security contractors, which forces a number of smaller candidates out of elections. Despite this, Ghana has a strong multi-party system. Women and the LGBT are disenfranchised. It is very difficult for people to sue the government in Ghana.
Freedom - 73
The government occasionally arbitrarily detains journalists and releases them days later without charge. Despite a lack of formal limits on press freedom, journalists are frequently intimidated by threats of frivolous lawsuits. The government used COVID lockdowns to justify arbitrary shutdowns of protests, but most protests were still allowed to occur. Ghana drew ire in 2021 for the arrest of several LGBT rights activists for unlawful assembly. Ghana does not have a separation of church and state. Christians and Muslims are granted preferential treatment by the government and Ghanaian public schools have a mandatory “religious studies” program that teaches both the Bible and the Quran. Drug possession is punishable by fines while drug manufacture, distribution, and trafficking are punishable by jail time. Ghana shall issue gun ownership permits for semi-automatic handguns and shotguns. Self-defense permits are only issued for handguns and hunting permits are only issued for shotguns.
Economy - 30
Health - 33
Ghana has a life expectancy of 64 years and an infant mortality rate of 3.4%. 10.9% of Ghanaians are obese and 8.1% are malnourished. Ghana’s major cities have high-quality, readily accessible public healthcare while its rural areas struggle to access healthcare of any kind. 80% of Ghanaians have access to clean, running water. Ghana has major problems with mosquito-borne tropical diseases, namely malaria.
Corruption - 8
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold. Police extortion is rampant and police are generally regarded to be the most corrupt institution in the country. Public services must be bribed into action. The Ghanaian construction sector is infamously corrupt and building permits are impossible to obtain without corruption. Tax money is embezzled at all levels of government. It is possible to smuggle anything in or out of Ghana, making it a major stop on the African cocaine run. Public contracts are impossible to obtain without bribes. Commercial fraud is rampant in the gold trade. Corruption at the highest levels of Ghanaian government is not as prevalent as other countries, however.
Competency - 55
The government is failing to control violence, as electoral violence remains a major issue in Ghana. The government is also failing to provide for the people as significant portions of the population lack access to government services. Ghana is significantly more competent than its neighbors, providing a significantly stronger welfare state and having significantly more secure borders than its neighbors.
Future - 80
Ghana boasts a strong and stable democracy, as well as one of the few economies that grew during COVID. Ghana’s reputation as the bastion of homegrown African development is well-deserved.
Actions Abroad - 75
Ghana has close relations with Burkina Faso and regularly sends humanitarian aid. Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo are all known to host each other’s dissenters. Ghana is a participating member of ECOWAS and maintains close relations with most ECOWAS countries. Ghana has very close economic ties to the US and American oil corporations are the primary oil extractors in Ghana. Ghana generally does not pursue an activist foreign policy outside West Africa.
13.3% of Ghanaians live below the international poverty line and 23.4% live below the national poverty line. 4.53% of Ghanaians are unemployed but a significant portion of the population are subsistence farmers and herders. Ghana has a high economic disparity. The minimum wage in Ghana is $2.07 per day. Ghana boasts the strongest universal healthcare scheme in continental West Africa, with readily accessible high-quality healthcare in all of Ghana’s major cities. Rural areas struggle to access healthcare, however, and many Ghanaians are forced to rely on traditional African medicine. The Ghanaian economy grew 0.4% in 2020 and 6.5% in 2019.