Ghana: Country overview

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ghana achieved independence in 1957 – one of the pioneering African states to pass through decolonization. Upon independence Ghana had the highest income per head in Sub-Saharan Africa, but by the early 1970s it had been overtaken by many countries. The first Non-Governmental Organizations established in Ghana were church-based, carrying out social and educational work alongside their evangelical activities. Community development has been formalized into a system of elected district assemblies, in which local village-based assemblies are incorporated into district council administration. A main factor in decentralization has been the need to cut the costs of administration. At independence, agricultural policy focused on creating large-scale state-owned mechanized farms. The policy orientation of the state is reflected in the structure of agricultural research and development. The agricultural research system has four main components: the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry of Agriculture, the universities and private agro-industrial companies.