Ghana will commemorate its 58th independence celebration today with parades and social activities across the country.
A national parade of schoolchildren and contingents of security personnel will climax the celebration at the Black Star Square in Accra where President John Dramani Mahama will take the national salute.
Similar parades will be held in all the regional and district capitals, during which representatives of the President will take the salute and read the President’s speech.
This year’s celebration has the theme, “Achieving Transformation through National Unity”.
Due to the celebration, the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has announced the closure of some public roads in Accra.
The roads, it said, included the 28th February Road, from CEPS Headquarters to the Castle Junction; Osu Cemetery traffic light on the Lokko Street, Castle Road from the AU Circle to Osu Cemetery traffic light and the Starlet 95 Road through to the Ministries traffic light.
A statement signed by the Director-General of the MTTD, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCOP Mr Angwubutoge Awuni, said vehicles with embossed stickers carrying spectators to the Independence Square would be allowed to pass through the various police checkpoints.
It stated that no vehicles would be allowed to park at unauthorised places or drive through these blockades, noting that security vehicles carrying dignitaries would be allowed after thorough checks, while MTTD officers would be on hand to direct and assist motorists to the appropriate car parks.
The statement said traffic from the 28th February Road emanating from Labone, Osu and La, heading towards the Central Business District, will be diverted to the Lokko Street at the Castle traffic light to link up with the Oxford Street.
It also said on the High Street, traffic will be diverted to the Liberia Road through to the National Theatre and further link up to the Ring Road towards Osu.
The statement, however, advised motorists to take note of the arrangements and plan alternative routes before embarking on their journey, adding that the general motoring public should cooperate with the police to ensure a successful anniversary.
As part of the celebrations, series of activities have been organised for different segments of the society.
Some of the activities are prayers for the nation by the various religions; wreath-laying and flag-raising ceremonies to mark the 28th February Crossroads shooting incident; finals of the senior high school debate and presentation of awards to selected schoolchildren by the President.
The Ghana Armed Forces will host an open day in all its military garrisons on Saturday, March 7, 2015, while the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) will host a “What do you know” contest on Sunday, March 8, 2015.
Holidaymakers are also expected to patronise the various entertainment centres, nightclubs and beaches in their respective areas to commemorate the occasion.
On March 6, 1957, Ghana obtained its independence, the first British colony in Africa to do so with Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah as its first Prime Minister.
On July 1, 1960 it became a republic with Kwame Nkrumah as its first President.
On February 24, 1966, the government of Dr Nkrumah was overthrown by the Ghana Armed Forces and the police and the National Liberation Council (NLC) junta, headed by Lt. General Joseph Arthur Ankrah, was formed to administer the country.
General Ankrah was removed from office in April 1969 and Lt. General Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa became the Chairman of the NLC, which later gave way to a three-man Presidential Commission with General Afrifa as the chairman.
The commission paved the way for a general election in 1969 which brought the Progress Party government, with Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia as Prime Minister and Mr Edward Akufo-Addo as president, into power.
The Ghana Armed Forces again intervened in national politics on January 13, 1972, and Colonel (later General) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong became the Head of State and Chairman of the National Redemption Council (NRC).
The name NRC was later changed to the Supreme Military Council (SMC) but General Acheampong was replaced by General F.W.K. Akuffo in a palace coup in July 1978.
The SMC was overthrown on June 4, 1979 in a mass revolt of junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces. Following the uprising, an Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was set up under the chairmanship of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
On September 24, 1979 the AFRC handed over power to the civilian administration of Dr Hilla Limann, leader of the People’s National Party (PNP), which had won the elections.
In the wake of the continuing downward plunge of the country, the Limann administration was overthrown on December 31, 1981.
Respected Ghanaian academic and jurist Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr believes Ghana is on a sound track 58 years after independence, but admits several avoidable mistakes have been committed along the line.
“We have made several mistakes,” the Universities of Durham, London and Berkeley-trained trained lawyer told Accra-based Joy FM.
However, he admitted as a “human institution there are missteps.”
According to Prof. Sawyerr, what has let Ghana down over the years is the politicisation of every issue.
“We look at things superficially and look at things” with partisan lenses, adding that Ghanaians do not do things as a united people.
He added: “My main worry – and with this the media must also be blamed – is the tendency to trivialise” matters.
Prof. Sawyerr said he is hopeful Ghana is on track, adding unity will drive the country to achieve its set objectives.
The former British colony turns 58 today – March 6, 2015 – and President John Mahama will be addressing a national parade at the Independence Square amidst other social activities across the country.
GHANA ECONOMY OUTLOOK
- Ghana’s economy is expected to maintain robust growth over the medium term, bolstered by improved oil and gas production, increased private-sector investment, improved public infrastructure development and sustained political stability.
- Promoting the integration of Ghana’s industrial sector into regional value chains could underpin the country’s structural transformation on condition that authorities take measures to improve agricultural productivity, and address challenges in infrastructure and in the business environment.
- With the exception of maternal and infant mortality, sanitation and employment, Ghana has made substantial progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as targets for the reduction of extreme poverty and access to safe drinking water have been achieved, while targets on hunger, education and gender are on track.
Ghana’s economy has maintained commendable growth trajectory with an average annual growth of about 6.0% over the past six years. In 2013 growth decelerated to 4.4%, considerably lower than the growth of 7.9% achieved in 2012. Growth has, however, been broad-based, driven largely by service-oriented sectors and industry, which on average have been growing at a rate of 9.0% over the five years up to 2013. Over the medium term to 2015, the economy is expected to register robust growth of around 8%, bolstered by improved oil and gas production, increased private-sector investment, improved public infrastructure development and sustained political stability.
The continued widening of the budget deficit has been a major constraint to fiscal and debt sustainability. Following an expenditure overrun in 2012, marked by an unprecedented budget deficit of around 12% of GDP, the situation persisted in 2013, with about the same level of budget deficit. Revenue enhancing and expenditure consolidation measures underway in 2014 are expected to ease the fiscal deficit to 9%. In conjunction with fiscal constraints, inflation has been on the rise resulting from a number of factors including the removal of subsidies on petroleum prices and a gradual rise in electricity and water tariffs. It is also worth noting the rise in public debt from 43% of GDP in 2011 to 48% in 2012, and further to 53.5% in September 2013, resulting from a widened budget deficit. The external sector will continue to experience a widened current account deficit of around 12% of GDP in 2014, exacerbated by a decline in commodity prices of major export commodities, particularly on gold and cocoa.
With the exception of some food processing and significant exports of gold and unprocessed cocoa, Ghana is relatively less integrated into global value chains due to its infant industry. Yet, compared to its regional peers, Ghana has the industrial capabilities to export and drive regional value chains in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries. Ghana’s geographical proximity to ECOWAS markets, projected rise in consumption and lower standard requirements offer Ghanaian industrial firms opportunities to scale up and increase their productivity. For the industrial sector to grow, authorities need to tackle the constraints relating to the cost of credit and to the unreliable supply of energy, in order for leading industrial sectors in construction materials, textile, agro-processing, plastics and pharmaceuticals to expand. Non tariff barriers also add a significant burden to the development of these regional value chains.
Table 1: Macroeconomic indicators
| 2012 | 2013(e) | 2014(p) | 2015(p) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 7.9 | 4.4 | 7.7 | 8 |
| Real GDP per capita growth | 5.8 | 2.3 | 5.7 | 6 |
| CPI inflation | 9.2 | 11.7 | 9.9 | 8.6 |
| Budget balance % GDP | -5.8 | -7.8 | -8.7 | -6.9 |
| Current account balance % GDP | -12.4 | -12.3 | -12.5 | -16.9 |
. Summary
Ghana
Property Rights 50.0
Freedom From Corruption 46.0
- Population:
- 25.6 million
- GDP (PPP):
- $88.5 billion
- 5.5% growth
- 8.0% 5-year compound annual growth
- $3,461 per capita
- Unemployment:
- 4.5%
- Inflation (CPI):
- 11.7%
- FDI Inflow:
- $3.2 billion
Ghana’s economic freedom score is 63.0, making its economy the 71st freest in the 2015 Index. Its overall score is 1.2 points lower than last year, with improvements in freedom from corruption and monetary freedom outweighed by declines in the management of government spending, investment freedom, and labor freedom. Ghana is ranked 5th out of 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and its overall score remains above the world average.
Over the past five years, economic freedom in Ghana has increased by 3.6 points. Along with an improvement of more than 20 points in its score for control of government spending, the country’s scores have advanced in half of the 10 economic freedoms including freedom from corruption and monetary freedom. These improvements have propelled Ghana into the ranks of the “moderately free.”
These steady advances, however, have masked deeper structural and institutional problems. Ghana remains well short of solidifying the foundations of macroeconomic fundamentals necessary for sustained growth and prosperity. Fiscal improvements have been overshadowed by the malinvestment of future oil revenues, forcing the government to seek IMF assistance in 2014. The judiciary is poorly funded and subject to bribery. Land titles are hard to obtain, and the process is lengthy, compromising the ability of individuals and firms to invest in their property.
BACKGROUND
Ghana has been a stable democracy since 1992. Following the death of President John Atta Mills in July 2012, Vice President John Dramani Mahama became interim head of state. Mahama was elected president in December 2012. Ghana is rich in natural resources, including gold, diamonds, manganese ore, and bauxite, as well as oil. It is Africa’s second-biggest gold producer after South Africa. In 2013, Ghana deported thousands of Chinese nationals for illegally mining gold. Economic challenges include managing new oil revenue while maintaining fiscal discipline.
RULE OF LAWVIEW METHODOLOGY
Property Rights 50.0
Freedom From Corruption46.0
Successive governments have deployed robust legal and institutional frameworks to combat corruption in Ghana, which is comparatively less corrupt than neighboring countries, but few Ghanaians feel that the situation has improved. Scarce resources compromise and delay the judicial process, and poorly paid judges can be tempted by bribes. The process for obtaining clear title to land is often difficult, complicated, and lengthy.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
METHODOLOGY
Government Spending 70.8
Fiscal Freedom 84.6
Ghana’s top individual and corporate income tax rates are 25 percent. Other taxes include a national insurance levy, a value-added tax, and a capital gains tax. The total tax burden equaled 17.1 percent of GDP in the most recent year. Public expenditures equal 31.2 percent of gross domestic product, and public debt equals 60 percent of domestic output.
REGULATORY EFFICIENCY
Business Freedom 62.5
Labor Freedom 56.9
Monetary Freedom 69.2
Recent regulatory reform measures have yielded reductions in bureaucracy, but progress in enhancing overall regulatory efficiency has lagged compared to other economies. Labor regulations have been under modernization, but informal labor activity remains significant. The government has reinstated a fuel-price adjustment mechanism to eliminate subsidies and has sharply increased electricity and water tariffs to reduce the fiscal deficit.
OPEN MARKETS
Trade Freedom 64.8
Investment Freedom 65.0
Financial Freedom 60.0
Ghana has an 8.6 percent average tariff rate. Government procurement procedures can favor domestic firms. Freely repatriating profits, foreign investors are typically treated equally with domestic investors under the law. The financial sector has undergone restructuring, and there are over 20 commercial banks. However, high interest rates on bank loans limit financing opportunities for new firms.
Country’s Score Over Time
Country Comparisons
Regional Ranking
| rank | country | overall | change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mauritius | 76.4 | -0.1 |
| 2 | Botswana | 69.8 | -2.2 |
| 3 | Cabo Verde | 66.4 | 0.3 |
| 4 | Rwanda | 64.8 | 0.1 |
| 5 | Ghana | 63 | -1.2 |
| 6 | South Africa | 62.6 | 0.1 |
| 7 | Madagascar | 61.7 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Swaziland | 59.9 | -1.3 |
| 9 | Uganda | 59.7 | -0.2 |
| 10 | Namibia | 59.6 | 0.2 |
| 11 | Benin | 58.8 | 1.7 |
| 12 | Zambia | 58.7 | -1.7 |
| 13 | Burkina Faso | 58.6 | -0.3 |
| 14 | Côte d’Ivoire | 58.5 | 0.8 |
| 15 | Gabon | 58.3 | 0.5 |
| 16 | Senegal | 57.8 | 2.4 |
| 17 | Tanzania | 57.5 | -0.3 |
| 18 | Djibouti | 57.5 | 1.6 |
| 19 | The Gambia | 57.5 | -2.0 |
| 20 | Seychelles | 57.5 | 1.3 |
| 21 | Mali | 56.4 | 0.9 |
| 22 | Nigeria | 55.6 | 1.3 |
| 23 | Kenya | 55.6 | -1.5 |
| 24 | Mozambique | 54.8 | -0.2 |
| 25 | Malawi | 54.8 | -0.6 |
FRENCH VERSION
Un défilé national des écoliers et des contingents du personnelde sécurité seront point culminant de la célébration à la place deStar Black à Accra, où le Président John Dramani Mahama aura lesalut national.
Défilés similaires seront tiendra tous les régionales et lescapitales de district, au cours de laquelle les représentants duPrésident seront le salut et lire le discours du Président.
Célébration de cette année a pour thème, « Réalisation deTransformation à travers l’unité nationale ».
En raison de la célébration, la circulation automobile et Transportdirection (MTTD) du Service de Police du Ghana a annoncé lafermeture de certaines voies publiques à Accra.
Les routes, il a dit, inclus le 28 février Road, depuis le siège deCEPS à la jonction du château ; Cimetière de Osu feu decirculation sur la rue Lokko, Castle Road du cercle AU feu decirculation Osu cimetière et la route de 95 starlette à traversjusqu’au feu de ministères.
Une déclaration signée par le directeur général de la MTTD,commissaire adjoint de la Police, M. DCOP Angwubutoge Awuni,dit véhicules avec des autocollants en relief, transportant lesspectateurs à la place de l’indépendance seraient autorisés àpasser à travers les différents points de contrôle de police.
Il a affirmé qu’aucun véhicule ne serait autorisés à se garer dansdes endroits non autorisés ou en voiture par le biais de cesblocages, notant que véhicules de sécurité transportant desdignitaires seraient autorisées après des vérificationsapprofondies, tandis que les officiers MTTD serait sur place pourdiriger et aider les automobilistes aux parkings appropriés.
Le communiqué, sont transférés vers le trafic de la route de 28février émanant de Labone, Osu et La, en direction du quartierCentral des affaires, à la rue Lokko au château feu pour établir unlien avec la rue d’Oxford.
Il a également déclaré sur la grand-rue, trafic sont transférés versla route Liberia à travers le théâtre National et plus loin le lienjusqu’à la rocade direction Osu.
La déclaration, cependant, conseillé aux automobilistes deprendre note des arrangements et de planifier des itinérairesalternatifs avant d’entreprendre leur voyage, ajoutant que legénéral automobile public devrait coopérer avec la police pourun anniversaire réussi.
Dans le cadre des célébrations, série d’activités ont étéorganisées pour les différents segments de la société.
Certaines activités sont des prières pour la nation par les diversesreligions ; cérémonies de gerbes et drapeau pour marquer le 28février carrefour tournage incident ; finale du débat de deuxième cycle du secondaire et remise des prix aux élèves sélectionnéspar le Président.
Les Forces armées ghanéennes accueillera une journée portes ouvertes dans toutes ses garnisons militaires samedi 7 mars2015, tandis que la Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)organisera un concours de “What you know” le dimanche 8 mars2015.
Les vacanciers devraient aussi fréquenter les divers centres dedivertissement, boîtes de nuit et plages dans leurs domainesrespectifs pour commémorer l’occasion.
Le 6 mars 1957, le Ghana obtenue son indépendance, la premièrecolonie britannique en Afrique de le faire avec le Dr OsagyefoKwame Nkrumah comme premier ministre.
Le 1er juillet 1960, il est devenu une République avec KwameNkrumah comme premier président.
Le 24 février 1966, le gouvernement du Dr Nkrumah fut renversépar les Forces armées de Ghana et de la police et la junte du Conseil de libération nationale (BNC), dirigée par le lieutenant–général Joseph Arthur Ankrah, a été formée pour administrer lepays.
général Ankrah a été démis de ses fonctions en avril 1969 etlieutenant–général Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa est devenu lePrésident du NLC, qui plus tard a fait place à une Commissionprésidentielle trois hommes avec général Afrifa comme président.
La commission a ouvert la voie à une élection générale en 1969qui a amené le gouvernement du parti du progrès, avec le Dr KofiAbrefa Busia comme premier ministre et M. Edward Akufo-Addo,en tant que Président, au pouvoir.
Les Forces armées ghanéennes sont intervenus à nouveau dans lapolitique nationale sur 13 janvier 1972, et le Colonel plus tard (générales) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong est devenu le chef del’Etat et président de la Conseil National de rédemption (CNRC).
Le CNRC nom a été changé plus tard pour le Conseil militairesuprême (SMC) mais générale Acheampong a été remplacé pargénéral F.W.K. Akuffo dans un coup de palais en juillet 1978.
Le SMC a été renversé le 4 juin 1979 dans une révolte massivedes officiers subalternes et les hommes de l’armée de Ghana. Lasuite du soulèvement, un Conseil révolutionnaire des Forcesarmées (AFRC) a été mis en place sous la présidence du capitaineJerry John Rawlings.
Le 24 septembre 1979 l’AFRC remis le pouvoir à l’administrationcivile du Dr Hilla Limann, chef de file de la populaire NationalParty (PNP), qui a remporté les élections.
À la suite de la plongée à la baisse continue du pays,l’administration de Limann a été renversée le 31 décembre 1981.
