Ghana

General Information1

Located in Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

10 Regions: Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, and Western

Population: 25,758,108

Capital: Accra

Official Language: English

Currency: Ghana cedi

Government Type: Constitutional Democracy1 "Ghana." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2014. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html>

Flag Facts1

Red band symbolizes the blood shed for the Ghana’s independence

Yellow band represents the Ghana's mineral wealth

Green band symbolizes Ghana’s forests and natural wealth

Black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom

History2

Formally existed as a British colony, but was granted independence on March 6, 1957 (the first in Sub-Saharan Africa)

Official title of the country is The Republic of Ghana

The current head of state is President John Dramani Mahama who was elected in December 2012

Ghana is a member of the African Union and of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

2 "Ghana." Europa World. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http://www.europaworld.com.flagship.luc.edu/entry/gh>

Economy1,2

In 2010, Ghana was recognized as a lower, middle-income country1

Ghana’s agricultural products include: cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), peanuts, corn, Shea nuts, bananas, and timber1

Ghana’s industry is also involved in: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, and petroleum1

The majority of the working population is involved in agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing2 

Community: Srafa Aboano3

Located in the Central Region of Ghana

Formally Titled: Ekumfi Srafa Aboano

Population: 1,900

Number of Homes: 260

Average Number of People per Home: 13-15

Primary Occupations: Farming and Fishing

3 "Where We Work / Ghana / Communities / Ekumfi Srafa Aboano." Srafa Aboano. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <https://www.globalbrigades.org/ghana-communities-srafa-aboano>

Country Issues4,5,6

Health4

Ghana’s government has faced several challenges in successfully decentralizing the health system in Ghana

The absence of a strong regulatory and policy framework to manage devolved health systems has diminished the effectiveness of the government’s efforts

Political instability and corruption has also delayed and hindered any progress

Education5

The significance of education is not as prevalent as child employment is in Ghana Mainly household influences due to economic strain lead to a child’s decision to discontinue schooling in

order to assist in providing for the family. This can be seen as the short-term management of long-term economic issues

About 15.6% of 6-14 year olds were employed in 2005/2006 Employment as such a young age can also lead to several health risks There also exists a lack of continued schooling to higher/secondary education

Water and Sanitation6

It is estimated that approximately 42% of Sub-Saharan households lack access to safe drinking water and that 64% of Sub-Saharan households also lack access to basic sanitation

Diarrheal diseases, which can be caused by poor sanitation and unsafe water, alone account for about 1.7 million deaths of children under the age of 5 per year

4 Couttolenc, Bernard. Decentralization and Governance in the Ghana Health Sector. Washington: World Bank Publications, 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://elibrary.worldbank.org.flagship.luc.edu/doi/pdf/10.1596/978-0-8213-9589-9>.5 Krauss, Alexander, and Alexander Krauss. Understanding Child Labor in Ghana Beyond Poverty The Structure of the Economy, Social Norms, and No Returns to Rural Basic Education. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2013. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://elibrary.worldbank.org.flagship.luc.edu/doi/pdf/10.1596/1813-9450-6513>.6 Gunther, Isabel, and Gunther Fink. Water and Sanitation to Reduce Child Mortality the Impact and Cost of Water and Sanitation Infrastructure. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://elibrary.worldbank.org.flagship.luc.edu/doi/pdf/10.1596/1813-9450-5618>.

Community Issues3

Health The nearest health center, Otuam, is a 20 minute drive from the community and costs about

2 Ghana cedi for a taxi There are no healthcare professionals in the community, although there is one spiritual

healer. This also means that there are no traditional birth attendants Latrines built by the Ghanaian Government are barely used because community members are

charged a small fee every time they use them. These public latrine pits are also unventilated, leading to an extremely unpleasant smell, and making them less popular to use

Education There are only 16 teachers for 1063 students in the community. This means that the ratio of

teachers to students is approximately 1:60 The literacy in the community is about 60% The nearest town with a senior high school is Esakyer, which is about a 30 minute drive away

by car Previously, no latrines were available at the local school, however Global Brigades has

implemented 8 since 2013

Water The main natural water source for the community is a small pond Several waterborne diseases originate from this pond usage such as diarrhea and skin rashes