Poverty in Ghana: Poverty in Ghana has several causes

[Kofi]

Ghana compared to Nigeria and others is a very small country BUT the gateway to Africa. Ghana is the heart and soul of Africa and there is no doubt about it. Not just that. Ghana is the most friendly and the most culturally rich country in all of Africa.

However, Ghana just like most other African countries is a "third world country" facing several different challenges including extreme poverty and hunger in certain parts.

Poverty in Ghana has several causes but I'll focus on just one; The Global Market trap. Poverty in Ghana is due mainly to the global market trap. About 60% of the Ghanaian population are into agriculture. Most of these people especially the poor farmers who cannot afford the machinery and the chemicals required for large scale farming just produce enough to feed themselves and their families.

Let me use my Uncle as an example. My grandparents were just subsistence farmers who grew crops and reared animals just to feed themselves and their families.
Unlike my grandparents however, my Uncle is into large scale farming. He grows pineapples and bananas on a large scale and export these to foreign countries in Europe and America. My uncle does not use artificial fertilizers/chemicals to produce his bananas and pineapples but grows all these fruits naturally using green manure and compost.

Because my Uncle doesn't use modern chemicals and genetic varieties, he is not able to get the same sizes of the fruits as farmers in America and in Europe. Because of this, most buyer countries in Europe and America keep rejecting his farm produce why because they consider the "natural" fruits my uncle produces, of low quality. The most painful part is that, sometimes a buyer would tell my uncle that he or she needs for example 20 tons. After harvest, the buyer would then tell you he or she needs just 5 tons and because we do not have enough processing machinery in Africa, these farm produce just go waste.

America and some European nations claim to be helping Africa but rejecting farm produce from Africa because they are of low quality.

[r1superman]

This is very said. I just had someone speak that just came back from a small village in Ghana. He told how the conditions there were and how grateful we should be for the things we have. It shocked me and I felt so sad.

[ultimoz]

Ghana has poor economy but i must say that the government there is struggling with people outside and inside to grow their economy.. i have heard that they are expanding their industries to that level where they can employ local people. situation is bad but they are progressing

[William]

It's very sad to see all of the things currently going on in Ghana. I don't believe Ghana should be placed under any other continent status wise, and vice versa. If only more relief and funds could be sent there to lend a hand, if only there was more peace in this world..

Ghana's poverty can be linked to corruption, both in government and in public sectors, the infrastructure of the cities deters TNC's from locating there. Over investment too in industry has left Ghana highly indebted. It has recently gained help from the World Bank and IMF under the HIPC initiative, but in order to gain large loans Ghana has had to comply to certain reforms, including curtailing public spending, it has been criticized by social academics who believe that not enough money will now be spent on sectors such as health care.

[Shirley Frimpong Manso]

I agree with Kofi. The Economic Market Trap is a major problem in Ghana. Not just in Ghana but the entire continent of Africa. Most Africans are farmers and the economic market trap doesn't help the situation at all. Adding to the causes of poverty in Ghana is corruption of course. Most of the leaders in both major parties (National Democratic Congress or NDC and the New Patriotic Party or NPP) are very corrupt. Ghanaians need to wake up and choose the right people to rule them. Ghanaians need to put away the tribal and ethnic politics and instead embrace the politics of what is right. Ashantis and Akuapems want to vote for NPP just because the flag-bearer is from their ethnic group. The Fantis and Ewes also want to vote for NDC just because the flag-bearer of the NDC happens to be from their ethnic group. If we continue like this then we cannot choose the right leaders to rule the nation Ghana which means we will continue to wallow in poverty although we have all it takes to be the richest country in Africa.

shirly and kofi. i have read your submisions with interest.i wish to make this piont clear Ghana is not a poor country nor Ghanaians poor people.

poverty as we know is subjective: money and material possessions.
Africans nor Ghanians before new no such word as poverty its a slave masters dictionary word.poverty is found in a capitalist world and should not be used to describe any African country.

The one who opens his mouth and the one who feeds the open mouth who is poor?

[Mr X]

why Ghana is poor? its because of ideas of simplicity.
- Class and tribalism. (idiotic ideas; im fante, im ga, im ashante, ect) YOU'RE FUCKING GHANAIAN. eliminate tribalistic ideas.
- Most Ghanaian just want enough to feed their family and a few to sell.
- Most Ghanaian have the idea that, someone else will do it.
- hatred of success for one another.
- sabotaging the success.
- Government corruption which leads to corruption of police, hospitals, tax ect.
- lack of a power for nationalist government (government care for thier own interest and not Ghana's interest; they want the money and leave).- Even the people in Ghana care for their own selfish need and not Ghana. And if this still continues to go on, Ghana will stay POOR.
I can sit here and right about 1000 more things that affect Ghana and other poor countries in Africa and worldwide that is not found in great countries.

SUB-SAHARA AFRICA IS THE MOS UNSUCCESSFUL PART OF THE EARTH AND GHANA IS PART, ITS NOT ABOUT THE SIZE. GHANA WILL CONTINUES BEING FUCKING POOR IF ITS CITIZENS CANNOT HELP THEIR OWN FUCKING SELF.

- SINCERELY, the CHANGE GHANA NEEDS.
WHEN I COME TO POWER IN GHANA, THIS WILL ALL CHANGE.

It is sad, but some of these people contribute to their own poverty levels by scamming others. It is a fact that you reap what you sow, and by scamming others out of money, they only dig a deeper hole for themselves and their families. Many Ghanians come to America or make contact online to scam victims out of money, electronics or whatever they can get. They all have a sad story and prey on your emotions and compassion. Yes its true that there are some innocent people in this country who do not deserve to live in such conditions, but their are also liars, thieves and whoremongers who thrive in the same contitions with their evil wicked behaviors. I was scammed by a man posing as a motivational speaker from Ghana. They will lie to no end and they often do it hiding behind God and chrisitianity.