Ghana is a country in West Africa with a similar land area to the UK. It spans various climactic zones, from the tropical south to a drier and more arid north where TREE AID works. The mainly rural population in Ghana’s north is dependent on agriculture for survival. TREE AID has been working in Ghana since 1994. Our office is in Tamale.
Economy: Ghana as a whole is a relatively wealthy country in West African terms. Despite this, 10% of the population continue to live in extreme poverty.
Deforestation: The population is suffering further as a result of deforestation. Between 1990 and 2010, Ghana lost over 2.5 million hectares of forest cover. It is estimated that around 115,000 hectares of forest is currently being cleared every year.
Land degradation: The clearing of land for agriculture has expanded rapidly over the years. Agricultural land has increased from 13% of Ghana’s total area in 1975 to 32% in 2013. Ironically, clearing of forests for agriculture, is the principal reason for the country’s agricultural decline, as soil is exposed to erosion and loses fertility.
Food insecurity: In Ghana, around 1.2 million people face food insecurity and a further 2 million people are considered vulnerable to become food insecure.
Education: Almost 20% of the population has never been to school. The lowest school attendance and adult literacy rates are concentrated in the rural northern regions. In rural savannah, only 30% of people over 15 years of age are literate.
Gender inequality: Female education is often considered secondary to their duties as wives and mothers and over 50% of adult women are illiterate compared to 33% of men. Many women in Ghana are still expected to carry out unpaid domestic labour rather than work for an income.
