Country Profiles Search   
1. Stakeholder perspective: Who participates, who doesn't? 2. Process perspective: How has participation been realized beyond the strategy development? 3. Framework perspective: What are key factors determining the impact of participation? 4. Resources: Statistcal Data, Documents and Links

GHANA
Ghana
1. Stakeholder perspective: Who participates, who doesn't?

1.1 Government and Parliament: The democratically elected government explicitly regards to the GPRS as its primary development instrument. The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) - the highest planning authority directly responsible to the president - coordinates the formulation and implementation of the GPRS. At regional level, the GPRS is also an important benchmark: the District Assemblies are mandated to compile district plans explicitly as local implementation plans within the national poverty reduction strategy. Whereas on the national level, Parliament does not play an important part; during the last legislative period (until late 2004) the subcommittee on PRS issues was rather dormant.

1.2 Non-state stakeholders: While more than 4000 registered Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) exist in Ghana, only a few are included in the process to date; partly this is due to the government's insufficient invitation practice. To some extent, however, the reason for CSOs to keep from the PRS process lies within political or practical considerations. Generally, various NGOs are skeptical of working closely with government institutions; yet many organizations are busy managing their own institutional survival-in turn, room for non-directly funded political actions is missing. Traditional authorities hold significant power in Ghanaian politics. In fact, the political and administrative organization of the Ashanti Kingdom is strictly hierarchical: Almost no decisions can be made without the regional Paramount-Chiefs or the local Chiefs. While those authorities do not play an apparent role in the ghanaian PRS process, they mostly likely influence consultations on the local level. Although the private sector is represented in PRS processes, the extent of representation is unclear. "Voices of the poor" are hardly integrated: although the government at least recognizes the problem of the "voicelessness" of the poor, neither the government nor civil society attempts to effectively change this.

1.3 Donors: International donors intensively support Ghana's poverty reduction strategy (e.g. PRSC, MDBS, HIPC, PSIA); and, in turn, exert strong influence on the politics of the country. In many instances the second Annual Progress Report (APR) (2004) refers to close coordination with donors. The leading instrument for "dialog" between government and donors are working groups on budget support. Hence, governance is directly intervened. Societal actors, as well as media and parliamentarian are excluded from the working groups.


2. Process perspective: How has participation been realized beyond the strategy development? Zum Seitenanfang
 

2.1 Participation in PRS implementation (overall perspective): In the case of PRS implementation (2002-05), civil society actors played virtually no role, while donors hold tremendous power to influence. However, by all means the self-confident government asserts its authority. Consequently, implementation is a sole government-donor affair. The cooperation between government and civil society in the fight against HIV/Aids serves as one exception to the rule (Republic of Ghana / National Development Planning Commission 2004: 16).

2.2 Participation in Policy Reforms linked to the PRS (specific perspective): No specific information available.

2.3 Participation in PRS Monitoring: The National Intra-Agency Poverty Monitoring Groups (NIPMGs) constitute the central institutional network in PRS monitoring. They participate in the preparation of the APRs; and, at a later stage, comment on them. Whereas the government emphasizes that the institutional set-up is to ensure participation of all stakeholders, an all-embracing representation has not yet been achieved. Regarding this matter the government called for two meetings in August and October 2004, yet, they were met with little response: only 12 organizations participated. After all, the organizations appointed representatives for the NIPMGs, among them the association of trade unions TUC and the NGOs ActionAid, Care, and Center for Democratic Development. In fact, the weak participation is reflected in the preparation of the APRs; the meetings summoned by the government are seldom attended by NGOs. However, civil society laments the ill information policy on the side of the government and the ad-hoc character of the meetings. This criticism seems appropriate; nonetheless, civil society does not show a proactive attitude itself. If they were more interested, the many information deficits could be easily balanced-a view that is self-critically acknowledged by some NGO representatives.

2.4 Participation in PRS Revision: After three years into implementation the review process started in September 2004 with the launch of thematic working groups. Admittedly though, the government does not regard to it as being all-embracing; instead it is simply labeled "update". Consequently, the government does not assume for any changes to arise. CSOs are specifically invited to participate in the thematic working groups.


3. Framework perspective: What are key factors determining the impact of participation? Zum Seitenanfang
 

3.1 Structures: As for participation of non-governmental actors in the PRS process, the monitoring groups and the thematic working groups are noteworthy. Both cases, however, are far from being signs of institutionalization. It was not until 2004 that the government seriously started to include civil society actors; and, to date-also on account of civil society itself-has not been extremely successful. For the future, the proceeding decentralization could become an important structure for participation.

3.2 Rights: Ghana's democratic constitution guarantees various fundamental human rights and freedoms. The basic rights as laid down in Article 21 and 37 are important regarding participation of citizens; the latter guarantees the right to participate and hence the essential right to establish organizations. Some provisions, e.g. those regulating decentralization, provide for further protection of participation. Another interesting expansion of fundamental freedoms could arise from the planned Freedom of Access to Information Law. Currently, the government works towards an NGO strategy under the headline of National Policy For Strategic Partnership with NGO's, which could become equally important for the legal basis of civil society participation. In the context of PRS processes the government's Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, which guarantees the right to civil society participation and sets out the task of the working groups, is noteworthy.

3.3 Legitimacy: As yet, the participating CSOs are mostly professional academic institutions or consulting firms, which draw their legitimacy solely from their capacity to solve social problems-it does not stem from broad membership. Thus, the gap between de facto participating actors and the poor population seems considerably. The fact that the poor are most often not represented by existing parliamentary or societal institutions is seen as problem in Ghana.

3.4 Capacity: Resources for CSO are altogether insufficient: few full time staff, much too tight budget, limit access to information, among other factors contribute to the limited capacity to act. Accordingly, three nuances can be detected: Some international NGOs residing in Accra as well as some academic institutions and consulting firms dispose of comparatively good resources. Domestic NGOs and NGO networks, on the other hand, most often lack secure footing and hence cannot work continuously. The many smaller Ghanaian organizations rooted in local communities, many who are deprived of resources, are extensively limited in their capacity to participate in political processes such as the PRS.


4. Resources: Statistcal Data, Documents and Links Zum Seitenanfang
 

4.1 Statistical data

a. Developmental status

Human Development Index (UNDP) (2004)
http://hdr.undp.org/statistics/data/countries.cfm?c=GHA
Rank 138 of 177
"Freedom in the World" country ratings (Freedom House) (2004)
http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/ghana.htm
"free"
Worldwide Press Freedom Index (Reporters Without Borders) (2004)
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11715
Rank 57 of 167
Index of Economic Freedom (Wall Street Journal/Heritage Foundation) (2005)
http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=Ghana
Rank 98 of 155

b. Indebteness

In 1998 Ghana's external debt reached its peak of US$ 6.88 billion, leading to annual debt service payments of US$ 580 million. But after pressure on behalf of Japan, Ghana's premier donor, to stop further loans to HIPC countries it took three years for the government to decide to join the HIPC initiative. Another three years later, in 2004, Ghana reached the HIPC completion point, paving the way towards cancelling Ghana's multilateral debt, which makes up ¾ of 1998's debt.

African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) - Ghana country profille
http://www.afrodad.org/debt/ghana.htm

Azeem, Vitus A. (undated): News Commentary on the the HIPC Debt Savings.
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/HIPC_debtsavings.PDF

Jubilee Research - Ghana country profile
http://www.jubileeplus.org/databank/profiles/ghana.htm

Paris Club - Ghana debt treatments
http://www.clubdeparis.org/en/countries/countries.php?PAY_ISO_ID=GH&submit=ok

World Bank: HIPC - Ghana Case
http://www.worldbank.org/hipc/country-cases/ghana/ghana.html

World Bank: Ghana Estimated Debt Service Payments
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/...,00.html?countrylist=GH

c. Further statistical resources

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (2003): Poverty Mapping for Selected African Countries.
http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/Publications/ESPD/PovertyProfiles.pdf

OECD (2005): African Economic Outlook 2004/05 - Ghana
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/58/34871823.pdf

World Bank: Ghana Data & Statistics
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/...,00.html

World Bank: Ghana Summary Gender Profile
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPGENDER/Resources/ghana.pdf

4.2 Important documents

a. Official PRS-related documents

IMF/IDA (2004): Ghana. Joint Staff Assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report. June 8.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/Ghana_PRSP_APR_JSA.pdf

IMF/IDA (2003): Ghana. Joint Staff Assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. March 4.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/Ghana_PRSP_JSA.pdf

IMF/IDA (2002a): Ghana. Joint Staff Assessment of the PRSP Preparation Status Report. February 4.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/Ghana_JSA_of_PRSP_Preparation_Status_Report.pdf

Republic of Ghana / National Development Planning Commission (2004): Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy 2003. Annual Progress Report. March.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/Ghana_PRSP_APR.pdf

Republic of Ghana (2003a): First Anual Progress Report 2002 [IMF and World Bank did not accept this document as official Progress Report]]

Republic of Ghana (2003b): Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy 2003-2005. An Agenda for Growth and Prosperity. 2 Volumes, February 19.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/Ghana_PRSP.pdf

Republic of Ghana (2002): Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy. Progess Report 2002.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/Ghana_PRSP_Preparation_Status_Report.pdf

Republic of Ghana / Ministry of Finance (2000): Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2000-2002. Accra, June.
http://povlibrary.worldbank.org/files/ghana%20iprsp.pdf

For the most recent official PRSP documents see
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/...,00.html

b. Major donor-related documents

European Commission: Ghana Country Strategy Paper 2002-2007
http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/csp_rsp/print/gh_csp_en.pdf#zoom=100

Ghana HIPC Completion Point Document (June 2004)
http://www.worldbank.org/hipc/country-cases/ghana/Ghana_Comp._Point_Document.pdf

Ghana HIPC Decision Point Document (February 2002)
http://www.worldbank.org/hipc/country-cases/ghana/Ghana_DP.pdf

IMF (2005): Article IV Consultation, Third Review Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. Washington D.C., August 15.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2005/cr05292.pdf

World Bank (2004a): Second Poverty Reduction Support Credit and Grant Project. June 7.
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/.../PDF/2917702nd0corr.pdf (10 MB!)

World Bank (2002a): Ghana Strategic Country Gender Assessment.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPGENDER/Resources/GhanaCGA-R.pdf

World Bank: Ghana Country Assistence Strategy (CAS)
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/...,00.html

For further donor-related strategy documents see http://www.countryanalyticwork.net

4.3 Reports and analyses

a. PRSP-related publications

The Integrated Development Centre's (ISODEC) website offers a wealth of Ghana-related PRSP documents and information: http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/index.htm

Abugre, Charles (2001a):PRSP Monitoring and Information in Ghana. Integrated Social Development Center (ISODEC).
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/prsp-monitoring-in-ghana.pdf

Abugre, Charles (2001b): Actors, Participation and Ownership. July.
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/participation-in-prsp-process-in-ghana.pdf

Abugre, Charles (undated): The CDS and Sector Wide Approaches in the Context of the GPRS.
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/gprsp_cdf.pdf

Abugre, Charles/Killick, Tony (2001a): Poverty-reducing Institutional Change and PRSP Processes: The Ghana Case. Draft for circulation, July.
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/draft-final_report_prsp_in_ghana.pdf

Abugre, Charles/Tony Killick (2001a): Institutionalising the PRSP approach in Ghaha. In: David Booth (ed.): PRSP Institutionalisation Study: Final Report, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London.
http://www.odi.org.uk/PPPG/publications/papers_reports/spa/ch3ghana.pdf

ActionAid International et al. (2005): Kept in the dark. A briefing on parliamentary scrutiny of IMF and World Bank. April. (includes short Ghana case study)
http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/briefings/debt/keptindark.pdf

ActionAid International et al. (2005): Kept in the dark. A briefing on parliamentary scrutiny of IMF and World Bank. April. (includes short Ghana case study)
http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/briefings/debt/keptindark.pdf

ActionAid International UK (2004): Money talks. How aid conditions continue to drive utility privatisation in poor countries. London, April (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.actionaid.org.uk/wps/content/documents/money_talks.pdf

Adubifa, O. Akin (2004): What is a Poverty Reduction Strategy Without Science and Technology? A Review of Science and Technology and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in Sub-Saharan Africa. African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), ATPS Special Paper Series No. 18, Nairobi. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.atpsnet.org/content/files/documents/Special%20Paper%20Series%2018.pdf

Africa Budget Project/Idasa Budget Information Service (2002a): Civil Society Budget Groups and their Participation in the PRSP Process. Draft Synthesis Report, Researched For The International Budget Project/Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.internationalbudget.org/resources/library/civsocPRSP.pdf
The respective Ghana case study is accessible at http://dev.idasact.org.za/gbOutputFiles.asp?WriteContent=Y&RID=1060

African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (undated): A Critical Analysis of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) Processes and Outcomes. The case of Ghana.

Apusigah, Agnes A. (undated): Gender Mainstreaming the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy or is it ?
http://www.isiswomen.org/pub/wia/wia2-04/agnes.htm

Azeem, Vitus/Mizane Yohannes/Charles Abugre (ed.) (2002): The 2002 Ghana budget. Wrapped around HIPC and "property owning democracy". The Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA). Integrated Social Development Centre, October.
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/2002ghanabudget.PDF

Baah, Anthony (2004): In doubt but on board - Ghana's unions and the PRSP. In: International Labour Organization (ILO) (ed.): Trade unions and poverty reduction strategies, Labour Education 2004/1-2 No. 134-135, pp. 45-50.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/publ/134/134.pdf

Bojö, Jan et al. (2004): Environment in Poverty Reduction Strategies and Poverty Reduction Support Credits. World Bank, Environment Department, Environmental Economics Series, Paper No. 102, Washington D.C., November. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/...PAPER0EDP0102.pdf

Bojö, Jan/Rama Chandra Reddy (2003): Status and Evolution of Environmental Priorities in the Poverty Reduction Strategies. An Assessment of Fifty Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. World Bank, Environment Department, Environmental Economics Series, Paper No. 93, Washington D.C., November. (includes data on Ghana)
http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/essd/envext.nsf/...PovertyReductionStrategies.pdf

Bonnel, René/Miriam Temin/Fith Tempest (2004): Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: Do They matter for Children and Young People made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS? Results of a Joint UNICEF and World Bank Review. World Bank, Africa Region Working Paper Series No. 78, Washington D.C., December. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.worldbank.org/afr/wps/wp78.pdf

Booth, David/Henry Lucas (2002): Good Practice in the Development of PRSP Indicators and Monitoring Systems. Overseas Development Institute, ODI Working Paper 172. July. (inlcudes data on Ghana)
http://www.odi.org.uk/pppg/publications/working_papers/172.pdf

Buckle, Gilbert (2003): Do PRSP's Deliver? Ghana Case Study. Ghana Country Study Final Report. December.
http://www.wemos.nl/Prs/library/casestudy/Ghana_case_study.pdf

Bussolo, Maurizio/Jeffery I. Round (2003): Poverty Reduction Strategies in a Budget-Constrained Economy: The Case of Ghana. OECD Development Centre, Working Paper No. 220, Paris.
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/58/46/2503657.pdf

Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) (2003): Proceedings of the International Forum for sharing of experiences on PRSP Monitoring and Implementation - the involvement of civil society. Held in Lusaka on the 23rd-24th June. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0000495/P453_CSPR_Report_062003.pdf

Cheru, Fantu (2002): The PRSP Process in Ghana, Second Meeting of the African Learning Group on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, 18-22 November, Brussels, Belgium, Economic Commission for Africa.
http://www.uneca.org/prsp/docs/prsp_final/Ghana.PDF

Coyle, Erin/Zaza Curran/Alison Evans (2003): PRS Monitoring in Africa. PRSP Monitoring & Synthesis Project, Synthesis Note 7, June. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.prspsynthesis.org/synthesis7.pdf

Dewachter, Sara (2005): The Participation Conditionality under Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: The Joint Staff Assessment -experience. University of Antwerp, Institute of Development Policy and Management, IDPM-UA discussion paper 2005-6, April. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.ua.ac.be/main.asp?c=*IOBE&n=4267&ct=001595&e=o74918

DFID Health Systems Resource Centre (2003): A Review of the Human Resource Content of PRSP and HIPC documentation in 6 selected African Countries. London, August. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.dfidhealthrc.org/shared/publications/Issues_papers/...PRSP%20and%20HIPC.pdf

Eberlei, Walter/Heike Henn (2003): Parliaments in Sub-Saharan Africa: actors in poverty reduction? GTZ, Eschborn, December. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www2.gtz.de/prsp/download/parliaments.pdf

Eberlei, Walter/Thomas Siebold (2002): Armutsbekämpfung in Afrika: neue Ansätze oder alte Konzepte? Institute for Development and Peace, INEF-Report 64, Duisburg. (includes Ghana case study)
http://inef.uni-duisburg.de/page/documents/report64.pdf?INEFSessID=...

Egulu, Lawrence (2004): Trade Union Participation in the PRSP Process. World Bank, Social Protection Unit, Social Protection Discussion Paper Series, Washington D.C., August. (includes Ghana case study)
http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/HDNet/hddocs.nsf/0/7a0f881805ec10bc85256ee600757c0d/$FILE/0417.pdf

Entwistle, Janet et al. (eds.): An Operational Approach for Assessing Country Ownership of Poverty Reduction Strategies, Vol. II. Country Case Studies Bolivia, Ghana, Kyrgyz Republic, Senegal, Washington, February.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPRS1/Resources/383606-1106667815039/completevolumeii.pdf

Farrant, Macha/Jeremy Clarke (2002): PRSPs in Decentralised Government Systems. Report untertaken for DFID, Draft. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.sti.ch/pdfs/swap294.pdf

Foster, Mick et al. (2002): How, When and Why Does Poverty Get Budget Priority? Poverty Reduction Strategy and Public Expenditure Reform in Five African Countries. Synthesis Paper, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Working Paper 168, London, May. (based on Ghana case study)
http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/wp168.pdf

Foster, Mick/Sadie Mackintosh-Walker (2001): Sector Wide Programmes and Poverty Reduction. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Centre for Aid and Public Expenditure, Working Paper 157, London. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.odi.org.uk/pppg/publications/working_papers/157.pdf

Foster, Mick/Douglas Zormelo (2002): How, When and Why does Poverty get Budget Priority? Poverty Reduction Strategy and Public Expenditure in Ghana. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Working Paper 164, London, April.
http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/wp164.pdf

Fox, James W. (2004): The Treatment of the Private Sector in African PRSPs and APRs. Report to the Bureau for Africa, USAID, Washington D.C., November. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.spa-psa.org/resources/2005/PRSP%20&%20private%20sector-Africa6.pdf

Fox, James W. (2003): Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: Review of Private Sector Participation. USAID Development Information Services (DIS), Washington D.C., October 31. (includes data on Ghana)
http://pdf.dec.org/pdf_docs/PNACU918.pdf

Gariba, Sulley/Mohammed Abdul-Nashiru (2002): Report of Strategies and Actions on: Participatory Approaches to Monitoring and Public Expenditure Management for Poverty Reduction in Ghana. May 8-10 2002, Swedru, Ghana; June.
http://www.worldbank.org/participation/SwedruReport2.pdf

Ghana HIPC Watch (undated): A Manual for Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of HIPC Projects. Final Draft.

GTZ (2005): Making Poverty Reduction Strategies Work -Good Practices, Issues, and Stakeholder Views-A Contribution of German Development Cooperation for the 2005 PRSP Review May 2005. Eschborn, May. (includes Ghana Good Practice sheet)
http://www.gtz.de/de/dokumente/en-prsreview-making-prs-work-2005.pdf

Heidel, Klaus (2004): Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers - blind to the rights of the (working) child? The (I-)PRSPs' perception of child labour. A problem outline and annotated collection of source material. Kindernothilfe/Werkstatt Ökonomie, Duisburg/Heidelberg, March. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.kindernothilfe.org/downloads/ka_prsp_mar_20044.pdf

Heintz, James (2004): Elements of an Employment Framework For Poverty Reduction in Ghana. Report of a joint ILO/UNDP mission.
http://www.undp.org/poverty/docs/employment-gprs-mission-report-july04.pdf

Hinchliffe, Keith (2004): Notes on the Impact of the HIPC Initiative on Public Expenditure in Education and Health in African Countries. World Bank, Africa Region Human Development Working Paper Series, Washington D.C., June. (includes data on Ghana)
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRICA/Resources/HIPC_Impact_04.pdf

Holmes, Malcom/Alison Evans (2003): A Review of Experience in Implementing Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks in a PRSP Context: A Synthesis of Eight Country Studies. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, November. (based on Ghana case study)
http://www.odi.org.uk/PPPG/cape/publications/MTEF%20Synthesis%20Final%20Nov%2003.pdf

Holvoet, Nathalie/Robrecht Renard (2005): Putting the new aid paradigm to work: challenges for monitoring and evaluation. University of Antwerp, Institute of Development Policy and Management, IDPM-UA discussion paper 2005-2, January. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.ua.ac.be/main.asp?c=*IOBE&n=4267&ct=001595&e=o59111

Houghton, Irungu (2001): Up against the Wind: Recent ActionAid experiences of engaging the Poverty Reduction Strategies and other IFI lending policies. Presentation to the conference entitled "From Engagement to Protest" organised by SAPRIN et al., April 19th, Washington DC. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.actionaidusa.org/pdf/Upaagainstwinds.pdf

IMF/IDA (2002b): Review of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Approach: Early Experience with Interim PRSPs and Full PRSPs. Prepared by the Staffs of the IMF and World Bank, Washington DC., March 26. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.imf.org/external/np/prspgen/review/2002/032602a.pdf

Integrated Social Development Center (ISODEC) (2003): The Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS). ISODEC's Position Paper. October.
http://www.isodec.org.gh/Papers/GPRSpositionpaper.PDF

International Labour Organisation (ILO) (2002): Disability and Poverty Reduction Strategies. How to ensure that access of persons with disabilities to decent and productive work is part of the PRSP process. Discussion Paper, Geneva, November.
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/disability/download/discpaper.pdf

Joint Donor PRSP Training (undated): Case study: Ghana - Fiduciary risk and its mitigation by donors.
http://www.hlspinstitute.org/files/project/13865/Ghana-fiduciaryrisk.pdf

Kamara, Siapha/Harriet Yeboah (2005): Bringing the poor into advocacy: a look at Ghana HIPC Watch. In: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) (ed.): Civil society and poverty reduction, Participatory Learning and Action 51, London, pp. 32-38.

Killick, Tony (2002): The 'Streamlining' of IMF Conditionality: Aspirations, Reality and Repercussions. A report for the Department for International Development (DFID), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, April. (based on Ghana case study)
http://www.odi.org.uk/iedg/Projects/imf_conditionality.pdf

Langdon, Steve/Rasheed Draman (2005): PRSPs in Africa: Parliaments and Economic Policy Performance. GTZ, Eschborn, February. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.parlcent.ca/africa/papers/GTZ%20Final%20Publication_EN.pdf

Laterveer, Leontien/Louis W. Niessen/Abdo S. Yazbeck (2003): Pro-poor health policies in poverty reduction strategies, in: Health Policy and Planning, Vol. 18(2), pp. 139-145. (includes data on Ghana)
http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/18/2/138

Lucas, Henry/David Evans/Katherine Pasteur (2004): Research on the current state of PRS monitoring systems. Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Discussion Paper 382, Brighton, December. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/dp/dp382.pdf

Marcus, Rachel/John Wilkinson (2002): Whose Poverty Matters? Vulnerability, Social Protection and PRSPs. Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (CHIP), Working Paper No. 1. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.chronicpoverty.org/pdfs/19Marcus_Wilkinson.pdf

McGee, Rosemary et al. (2002): Assessing Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers: A Desk-Based Synthesis of Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Research Report 52, Brighton, October. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/rr/rr52.pdf

Mehta, Meera (2002): Water Supply and Sanitation in PRSP Initiatives. A Desk Review of Emerging Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), Nairobi, January 18. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.wsp.org/publications/af_prsp.pdf

Mitlin, Diana (2004): Understanding Urban Poverty - What the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers tell us. London. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.iied.org/docs/urban/urbpov_wp13.pdf

Morazán, Pedro/Irene Knoke (2005): PRSP is about People. Experiences and reflections with partner organisations in five African countries: Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania. Institute Südwind, May.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPRS1/Resources/PRSP-Review/PRSPaboutPeople.pdf

Mozammel, Masud/Odugbemi, Sina (eds.) (2005): With the support of multitudes, Washington (World Bank), London (DFID). (includes Ghana case study)
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTDEVCOMMENG/Resources/withthesupportofmultitude.pdf

Mulikita, Njunga Michael (ed.) (2002): Report of the International Conference on Poverty Reduction in Africa - A New Imposed Conditionality or a Chance for a Meaningful Development Policy. 17th to 18th June, Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.sarpn.org.za/documents/d0000005/index.php

Mwamadzingo, Mohammed (2004): African PRSPs - unions dialogue with World Bank and IMF, in: International Labour Organization (ILO) (ed.): Trade unions and poverty reduction strategies, Labour Education 2004/1-2 No. 134-135, pp. 17-23. (includes short Ghana case study)
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/publ/134/134.pdf

Oduro, Kojo N. (2003): Results-Oriented Public Expenditure Management. Case Study of Ghana. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Working Paper 208, London, June.
http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/working_papers/wp208.pdf

OECD/DAC (2004): Role of Infrastructure in Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction. Lessons Learned from PRSPs of 33 Countries. DAC Network on Poverty Reduction, Berlin, October 27-29. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/57/60/33919674.pdf

Osei, Robert/Peter Quartey (2001): The HIPC Initiative and Poverty Reduction in Ghana. An Assessment. World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER), Discussion Paper No. 2001/119, November.
http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/dps/dp2001-119.pdf

Overseas Development Institute (ODI) (2005): Linking Policies and Budgets: Implementing Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks in a PRSP Context. Overseas Development Institute, ODI Briefing Paper, London, June. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/briefing/bp_june05_MTEF.pdf

Oxfam International (2004): From 'Donorship' to Ownership? Moving Towards PRSP Round Two. Oxfam Briefing Paper 51, January. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.oxfam.org/eng/pdfs/pp040119_prsp_.pdf

Rodenberg, Birte (2004): Gender and Poverty Reduction. New Conceptual Approaches in International Development Cooperation. German Development Institute (GDI), Reports and Working Papers No. 4/2004, Bonn, January. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.die-gdi.de/die_homepage.nsf/.../Rodenberg-B-Fa.pdf

Rodenberg, Birte (2003a): Integrating Gender into National Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSPs): The Example of Ghana. GTZ, Gender Sector Advisory Project, Eschborn, March.
http://www2.gtz.de/dokumente/bib/03-0146.pdf
An earlier version (December 2001) can be found at: http://www.die-gdi.de/die_homepage.nsf/.../Rodenberg%20Ghana%20English.pdf

Rodenberg, Birte (2003b): Wie ein PRSP entsteht - Beispiel Ghana. In: Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (E+Z), Vol. 44 (6).
http://www.inwent.org/E+Z/content/archiv-ger/11-2003/schwer_art5.html

SGTS & Associates (2000a): Civil Society Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). Report to DfID. Vol I: Overview and Recommendations. October. (based on Ghana case study)
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/cs-prsps-vI.pdf

SGTS & Associates (2000b): Civil Society Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). Report to DfID, Vol II: Ghana Case Study. Accra, May.
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/cs-prsps-vII.pdf

Short, John (2003): Country Case Study 4: Assessment of the MTEF in Ghana. Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, May.
http://www.odi.org.uk/PPPG/cape/publications/MTEF-Ghana.pdf

Stites, Elizabeth (2003): Extractive Industries and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Commissioned by Oxfam America and Catholic Relief Services. April 30. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.catholicrelief.org/get_involved/advocacy/policy_and_strategic_issues/EI_PRSP.pdf

Tan, Jee-Peng/Agnes Soucat/Alain Mingat (2001): Enhancing Human Development in the HIPC/PRSP Context. Progress in the Africa Region during 2000. World Bank, Africa Region Human Development Working Paper Series, Washington D.C., May. (includes data on Ghana)
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/AFRICAEXT/Resources/hipc_prsp.pdf

Thin, Neil/Mary Underwood/Jim Gilling (2001): Sub-Saharan Africa's Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers from Social Policy and Sustainable Livelihoods Perspectives. A report for the Department for International Development, Oxford Development Management, Oxford, March. (includes data on Ghana).
http://www.livelihoods.org/info/docs/prsp_ssa.doc

Thorpe, Andy et al. (2004): African Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes and the Fisheries Sector: Currrent Situation and Opportunities, in: African Development Review, Vol. 16(2), September, pp. 328-362. (includes data on Ghana)
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1017-6772.2004.00094.x?cookieSet=1

Wemos/Medact (2004): Pushing the boundaries: health and the next round of PRSPs. June. (includes data/case study on Ghana)
http://www.medact.org/content/Wemos%20and%20Medact%20-%20Pushing%20the%20boundaries.pdf

World Bank (2005): Poverty Reduction Support Credits: A Stocktaking. Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS), Washington D.C., June 24. (includes data on Ghana)
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/...Stocktaking%20_06-28-05_.pdf

World Bank (2004b): Poverty Reduction Strategies: Their Importance for Disability. Disability and Development Team, Washington D.C., July 7.

World Bank (2003): Evaluation of the Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF). Ghana Case Study. Operations Evaluation Department (OED).
http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/oed/oeddoclib.nsf/.../CDF_Ghana_WP.pdf

World Bank (2002b): Aligning Assistance for Development Effectiveness. Promising Country Experience. Comprehensive Development Framework Secretariat/Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS), Washington D.C., February. (includes short Ghana case study)
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/CDF/Resources/Alignment.pdf

World Bank (undated): Action Learning Program on Participatory Processes for Poverty Reduction Strategies. Ghana Process Case Study. Participation and Civic Engagement Group, Washington D.C.
http://www.worldbank.org/participation/web/webfiles/ghana.htm

World Development Movement (2005): Democracy and the Poverty Reduction Strategy process: Country cases. May. (includes short Ghana case study).
http://www.wdm.org.uk/democracy/prsp/prsp.pdf

b. Background reading

Africa Budget Project/ Idasa Budget Information Service (2002b): Africa Fiscal Transparency - Ghana. In: Budget Transparency and Participation: Five African Case Studies.
http://www.internationalbudget.org/resources/GHANA.pdf

Connolly, Eileen (2005): Women's representation in national parliaments in Sub-Saharan Africa: an ideational framework for investigation. Centre for International Studies, Dublin City University, Working Papers in International Studies 2005/2.
http://www.dcu.ie/~cis/2005_2.pdf

McKay, Andrew/Ernest Aryeetey (2004): Operationalising Pro-Poor Growth. A Country Case Study on Ghana. October.
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/oppgghana.pdf

Mackay, Keith/Sulley Gariba (2000): The Role of Civil Society in Assessing Public Sector Performance in Ghana. Proceedings of a Workshop. World Bank, Operations Evaluation Department (OED), Washington D.C.
http://www.worldbank.org/participation/ecdghanaproceed.pdf

Tsikata, Yvonne M. (2001): Owning Economic Reforms. A Comparative Study of Ghana and Tanzania. World Institute for Development Economics Research, WIDER Discussion Paper No. 2001/53, August.
http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/dps/dp2001-53.pdf

Whitehead, Ann/Matthew Lockwood (1999): Gender in the World Bank's Poverty Assessments: Six Case Studies from Sub-Saharan Africa. United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), Discussion Paper No. 99, Geneva, June. (includes Ghana case study)
http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/.../dp99rev.pdf

4.4 Links to stakeholders involved

a. PRSP

Ghana HIPC Watch
http://www.sendfoundation.org/watch/

Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC)
http://www.isodec.org.gh/

Government of the Republic of Ghana
http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php

b. Civil society

Agricultural and Rural Development Association (ARA)
http://www.ara-ghana.de/

Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Development (GAPVOD) (NGO umbrella organisation)
http://www.gapvod.kabissa.org/

Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDG)
http://www.cddghana.org/

Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC)
http://www.isodec.org.gh/

Social Enterprise Development (SEND) Foundation
http://www.sendfoundation.org/

Structural Adjustment Participatory Review International Network (SAPRIN-Ghana)
http://www.saprin.org/ghana/ghana.htm

The Ark Foundation/Centre for Women's Leadership & Empowerment
http://www.arkfoundationgh.org/

Directory of Development Organizations (national / international)
http://www.devdir.org/files/Ghana.PDF

c. Donors / International actors

Aid Harmonization & Alignment Iniatiative - Ghana country profile
http://www.aidharmonization.org/ah-cla/ah-browser/index-abridged?rgn_cnt=gh&master=master

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Ghana country profile
http://www.imf.org/external/country/GHA/index.htm

World Bank - Ghana country profile
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/...,00.html

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Ghana country office
http://www.undp-gha.org/

Directory of Development Organizations (national / international)
http://www.devdir.org/files/Ghana.PDF

4.5 General country information

Ghana Review International (News agency)
http://ghanareview.com/review/

Daily Graphik (daily newspaper)
http://www.graphicghana.com/

AllAfrica.com - Ghana news
http://allafrica.com/ghana/

Development Gateway
http://old.developmentgateway.org/countryprofile/?country_iso=gh

Freedom House - Ghana country profile
http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/ghana.htm

The Eldis Gateway to development information provides a comprehensive and up-to-date country website that can be accessed at http://www.eldis.org/africa/index.htm

A further comprehensive collection of web links can be found at Stanford University: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/ghana.html

4.6 General links that also provide country-specific information

European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad)
http://www.eurodad.org/

International Monetary Fund (IMF)
http://www.imf.org/

The World Bank Group
http://www.worldbank.org/

Paris Club
http://www.clubdeparis.org/en/index.php

 

Source : www.prsp-watch.de (September 2005)

© German Version: VENRO
© English Version: The World Bank Group & VENRO. The first part of this country profile (analysis excluding information on ressources) has been comissioned by the World Bank, Social Development Department, Participation and Civic Engagement Group and produced by a team of researchers under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Walter Eberlei, University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf. Other team members were Dr. Thomas Siebold (Hamburg), Bettina Führmann (Düsseldorf/Bochum), Christina-Maria Kreibich (Duisburg) and Arne Wunder (Bielefeld/Duisburg). VENRO has been granted the right to post it. The country profile largely draws on information from a previous German version that was commissioned by VENRO. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank or VENRO. VENRO is the Association of German development non-governmental organisations (www.venro.org).

top