GHANA
Dossier By Francis Kokutse, Debra Percival, Hegel Goutier
This issue turns the spotlight on Ghana, regarded as one of Africa’s shining stars and which between 30 September-3 October this year will host the only sixth-ever Summit between the 79-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group in its capital, Accra. Ghana’s lasting multi-party democracy, steady economic growth, increasing numbers enjoying an education and very active non-state sector, are just some of its widely recognised attributes. Highly-skilled Ghanaians in all sectors – to name just one, former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Kofi Annan – have made their mark internationally. The country’s big diaspora, both within and outside the continent, continue to send remittances home to further the country’s development. Ghanaian peacekeepers are sought after for both regional and UN missions. .
As current President, John Agyekum Kufuor, winds up his two terms in office in December 2008 when presidential and parliamentary elections will take place, we trace the country’s history and what the political future holds. We look at whether it can continue to benefit from buoyant commodity exports despite the steep rise in two of its biggest imports; oil and foodstuffs and how European Union (EU) aid is helping it to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
