Ghana: “Consulting With The Poor.” Country Synthesis Report: Commissioned by The World Bank: By: Ernest Y. Kunfaa - July 1999

MethodologyCase Study Structure:

• 40 Individuals cases were studied

• 56 Groups cases were studied

• Total = 96 cases studies were used• Site total = 9:::2 Coastal Zone, 2 Middle Belt, 2 Transitional Zone, and 3 from Northern Savannah Zone

Historical overview: Ghana•Sub-Saharan West African Sub-region• Independence in 1957• Population is roughly 18 million with a growth rate of 3% (One of the highest in the world)

• About 60% of the country’s population live in rural communities. Making it a predominantly rural country. • Ghana is comprised of various ethnic groups: 17 major ethnicities are indentified by language. The Akans constituting 44% & Ewes 13%• Christians make up over 50% and are fairly concentrated in the southern half of the country• Muslims and adherents or traditional religions are generally in the northern portion. • Almost half the population (46.7%) are people less than 15 years of age, while elderly are 3.7%• The avg. growth rate of the GDP between 84-92 was approximately. 5% but since has taken sharp declines, fluctuates and has been unsteady to date. • Adopted a decentralized Government in 1988

Keith Tivon Gregory

PERCEPTIONS OF POVERTY: GREAT DIVIDES

[1] Causes and Impacts of Poverty as perceived by men in TabeEre, box 4a, pg 29[2] Causes and Impacts of Poverty as perceived by women in TabeEre, box 4b, pg 30[3] Scoring and ranking of causes and impact of poverty, perception of the youth in Adaboya, box 5A, pg 33

CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF POVERTY IN TABEERE[1][2]

Causes of Poverty Score

Impacts of Poverty Score

Poor Yield 15Inability to care for children 16

Lack of jobs 9 Ill health, death 9

Lack of farm inputs 6 Sorrow, sadness 9

High birth rates 4 Madness 2

Early marriage 3 Anger 2

Excessive Drinking 3 Drug Abuse 2

PERCEPTION OF POVERTY IN YOUTH OF ADABOYA[3]

SECURITY, RISK, VULNERABILITY[4]

Security:

Ngmaagayeleka o puobon la o so

The monkey saysthat that which is inhis stomach is whathe owns(person relies on himself)

Living happily without fears or problems, having enough money and property

ka enantaalibiri,etare bongyaa

If you have moneyyou can do allthings

Risk:

Kye “But”(an indication of uncertainty)

Dabeeng Fear(to be frightened or anxious)

Something that can cause harm

Vulnerability:

Yelkanga toongmemaa

Something may cut(something unknown may happen)

Ngmaagayeleka o puobon la o so

The monkey saysthat that which is inhis stomach is whathe owns(person relies on himself)

Men Women

[4] Local Definitions of Security, Risk & Vulnerability - perceived by men and women in Dobile Yirkpong, Box 6 and text, pg 35

ESCAPING POVERTY[5]

Kwasi Frimpong (Poor --> Rich)•“a lot of hard work and dedication”•“economic use of resources”•“DON’T travel outside the country”Afua Florence (Poor)•“my main problem is lack of money”In general•“If God permits/allows”

SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND COHESION[6]

[5] Opportunities, social and economic mobility, pg 39-40[6] Social exclusion, pg 41-44[7] Coping Strategies, Boxes 12, pg 45

Condition Justification Remediation

Epilepsy / Leprosy “Witches/wizards” none

Thieves Social misfits Fines / rites

Rapists/adulterers Immorality Fines to victim

Extreme poverty Insult / disgrace Become wealthy

COPING STRATEGIES[7]

Urban(Atonsu Bokro)

Boyfriends w/ money, sleep with men, steal, food with friends, servitude, God

Borrow money, lies/fraud, depend on family, collect remittances

Rural(Dobile Yirkpong)

Pray to God, help husbands, trading, firewood, help each other, attention to sanitation, fetch pipe-water

Making bean cakes, borrow, steal, collect fuel wood, pray to God

Jim Hsu

Gender Issues: Urban and Rural Ghana

RURAL URBAN

Responsibilities Women: help husbands with farm work and with maintaining the house

Men: provide for the family

Women: will supplement the household income if need be

Men: provide for the family plus pays school fees, rent and utilities

Decision Making Men exert more dominance over women than in urban areas.

Many women are becoming educated, which effects decision making.

Violence and Abuse Against Women

The main cause given is men’s access to alcohol and lack of consideration for their wives.

Tied to performance in the economy and influence of foreign cultures.

Summary:Women have a greater voice (education, ability to earn money, more power) than they have in the past, yet they consider themselves worse off due to “the increased availability of hard drugs, alcohol, strong drinks and declining crops,” which leads to violence.Paradoxically, men perceive women as being better off than in the past because of access to economic resources.

Christen Penny

Institutional Analysis

Religious - Rural Hospitals and Health Clinics – UrbanSocial Clubs and Classmates Union – UrbanInstitutions providing utilities - Urban

Health FacilitiesAssemblymanPolice

WomenWomenWomen

MenMenMen

Source: “Consultations With The Poor,” Ghana (Country Synthesis Report, World Bank: pg. 57-58

Freddy Yip