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Ghana

 

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Battle of Ideas
Article on Damned by Debt Relief
Crawfurd Ghana
Ghana history from 600 BC to Independence
Damned by Debt Relief
Buy the film
DFID
Department for International Development... Read more 
IMF.org
IMF article on Ghana’s debt relief
Makepovertyhistory.org
The Make Poverty History Campaign
Spiked-online
Brendan O’Neill talks to filmmaker DeRoy Kwesi Andrew... Read more 
Worldbank
Worldbank article... Read more 
Worldwrite.org
The organisation behind the film

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Country Statistics

Facts

Demographics

Economy

Industry

Communications

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Facts and figures supplied by
CIA world factbook for Ghana

Last updated 14 July 2007

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Facts

Official Name:

Ghana

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote dIvoire and Togo

Capital:

Accra

Independence:

Ghana (former British colony) became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana celebrated its 50th anniversary on 6 March 2007

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Demographics

Population

Total: 23,832,495
... Read more 

Life Expectancy

Total population:
59.85 years

Male: 58.98 years
Female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)

Language

Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)

Religion

Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

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Economy

Economy

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. ...Read more

Currency

cedi (GHC)

GDP per Capita

$2,600 (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

31.4% (1992 est.)

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Industry

Agriculture

cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Industries

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Exports

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds

Imports

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

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Communications

International Dialling Code

+233

Internet suffix

.gh

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News & Media

Ghana News

Africa News

International News

Television

Radio

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Ghana News

Latest News
Latest Ghana headlines


ghanaian-chronicle.com
Includes news, features, politics and sports
Ghana News Agency.org
GNA, the first news agency to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa.... Read more 
Ghana Review International
GRi is an independent publication without affiliation to any political party... Read more 
Ghanaweb.com
Comprehensive news site with links and multimedia
Hi Ghana.com
A well laid out daily with information on many topics,... Read more 
the Point
Accra based newspaper
Topix.net
News on Ghana continually updated from thousands of sources around the net
Vibeghana.com
Discussions, videos, movies, funny videos, news articles from Ghana... Read more 

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Africa News

Latest News
Latest Africa headlines


Africa-Interactive.net
Africa Interactive foundation’s mission... Read more 
Afrik.com
News site in French
Afrol.com
African News Agency.... Read more
AllAfrica.com
News from 125 African news organisations in English and French
East African Business Week
Weekly East African business newspaper.... Read more 
The East African
Articles from the latest issue of the Kenya newspaper.... Read more
IRIN News.org
Part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,... Read more
JHR.org
Journalists for Human Rights
Nation Media
In-depth coverage on Africa news, politics,... Read more 
OneWorld.net-Africa
Daily world news, views, campaigns,... Read more 
Panapress
Africa, News agency, information, media,... Read more 
Stanford University
Excellent site for African news links
World Press.org-Africa
Daily world news from African newspapers

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International News

ABYZ News links
Search worldwide news links by country
AlJazeera.net
Middle East based news site in English
BBC News
British Broadcasting Corporation
CNN News
Cable News Network
Google News
Online Search Engine News
Guardian Newspaper
English Daily Newspaper Online World Edition
IndyMedia.org
A collective of independent media organizations... Read more 
IPS News
Inter Press Service - a leading civil society news agency... Read more 
LiveLeak.com-News
Video site with news reports from around the world
OneWorld.net
Aiming to provide the best online resource for news, opinion,... Read more 
Online newspapers
Worldwide links to newspapers..... Read more 
Peace Reporter
Reporting conflicts & good news from the world.
Reuters
World renown News Agency
Sky World News
Part of the News Corporation Group
World Press.org
Guide to the international press,... Read more 

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Television

Ghana Television

Africa Television

International Television

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Ghana Television

Ghanaweb.com
Information on Ghanaian television
Ghanaweb.com
Diasporas Television Broadcasts from the Amsterdam-based Ghanaian television station Gye Nyame TV

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Africa Television

Africast
Live news, sports and entertainment from local broadcasters in several African countries
Afrovision
Videos on music, tv-shows and sports and user videos

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International Television

Al Islam
Muslim Television Ahmadiyya reaching the corners of the earth
AZN Television
The network for Asian American
BBC World
World renown British Broadcasting Corporation
CNN TV
CNN TV Listings
Reuters Video
Reuters News Video
Sky News TV
Upto the minute news reports from Sky News

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Radio

Ghana Radio

Africa Radio

International Radio

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Ghana Radio

ghanawaves.com
Internet Radio for Ghanaians abroad from Accra. Web site based in Germany

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Africa Radio

Africa N1
Paris based African radio station in French
African Hip Hop Radio
AfricanHipHopRadio.com is the continuation of the Rumba-Kali webcast ... Read more 
African Music Radio
Promoting African Music to the world through the internet
First Voice International Radio
Providing underserved populations with vital information from satellite radio
Ghetto Radio
Revealling the fuller picture of ghetto life and culture in Africa
Trans World Africa
Trans World Radio broadcasts the Gospel of Jesus Christ... Read more 

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International Radio

BBC World Service
Renown British Broadcasting Corporation World Service
Radio-locator
Links to over 10,000 radio station web pages... Read more 
Radio Station World
Global Radio Directory

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Arts & Culture

Art

Culture

Film

Museums

Music

Theatre

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Ghana Art

Adinkra Symbology
Article on Adinkra Symbology and philosophy
Akan Cultural Symbols Project
Introduction and guide to the related books and CD-ROM components,... Read more 
Cultural collaborative.org
An educational organisation that invites people to Ghana... Read more 

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Africa Art

Adire African Textiles
Site dedicated to African Textiles
African Colours
Gallery for African artists
African Philosophy Resources
Database of African Philosophy
Africa Resource.com Art Gallery
Online exhibition of Africa Art
Art & Life in Africa
Lots of links to African Arts
Art Matters
flaunting arts and culture in Africa

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Ghana Culture

Ashanti.com
History and culture of the Ashanti People
International Center for African Culture and Arts (ICACA)
NGO dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate folk traditions...Read more 

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Africa Culture

Africultures.com
Providing information on and in-depth analysis of contemporary cultural... Read more 
Africa e Mediterraneo
An interdisciplinary journal of African cultural studies,... Read more 
African Wildlife Foundation
The leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa
Behind the Mask
Through journalistic activism, strives to change negative... Read more 
Cafe Africana
A centre for arts, culture, lifestyle and politics
Internet African History Sourcebook
History site for Africa
Warm Africa.com-Culture
Site covering News, Travel, Culture, Sport & Economy

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Ghana Film

Ayamye Homepage
Documentary on what a bicycle can bring to a community
Popular Cinema
Article by Birgit Meyer on Ghanian popular cinema

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Africa Film

Africa Cinemas
A new impetus to the exhibition of African,... Read more 
Africam.com
Africam - always live, always wild
African Film.com
Distributing films that focus on the human experience of black people in Africa,... Read more 
African Film Commission
The official organization that promotes the economic development and integration of African film industry
African Women in Cinema
Project by Beti Ellerson, Ph.D. on African Women in Cinema
Columbia Universities Libraries
Links to Africa Films & Videos site
Filmmaker South Africa
Site for South African Filmmakers
SA Film.org
A resource for independent South African film-makers

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Ghana Museums

Gramophone Records Museum of Ghana
Houses records and oral history recordings, all collected in Ghana
Ghanian Museum
List of museums with details
ICOM
the International Council of Museums, Ghana
National Museum in Accra
Objects of archeology, ethnography, fine art

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Africa Museums

Africom.Museum
International Council of African Museums
Allny.com
Listings of African Museums
Clickafrique.com
Directory of African Museums & Galleries
Museum Online South Africa
Listings of South African Museums
National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution,... Read more 
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Home to some truly remarkable collections
West African Museums Programme
Providing services to museums and related institutions in West Africa

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Ghana Music

Bernard Woma
Students from around the globe, live and work at the center, ... Read more 
Dagara Music
Master of Dagara music, is one of the leading traditional African musicians in Ghana....Read more 
Ghanian hiphop bands
Independent, uncensored site that unifies everybody who is inspired by hip hop...Read more 
Kusum Gboo Dance Ensemble
Kusum Gboo Dance Ensemble....Read more 
Rockydawuni.com
Ghanaian reggae singer

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Africa Music

Africa Hit.com
Streaming the best African music videos 24/7
African Music
African music encyclopedia
African Music Hub
A portal for African Music with access to sites,... Read more 
African Musicians Profiles.com
Think the title says it all
Afropop.org
African & World music via public radio & the web
BBC Music
Echoes of Africa - Looking at the influence of African music
Dance Drummer.com
Brilliant site about African Drumming with lots of interactivety & videos
ILAM TITLE
International Library of African Music (ILAM)... Read more 
Madunia
Promoting African music and supporting local initiatives of African musicians
RootsWorld Africa
Links to African Music
Xplastaz.com
Maasai Hip Hop - African Rap
Zadonu.com
African Music & Dance Company

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Ghana Theatre

Talented Youth Theatre (TYT)
Events, videos, volounteer and members page
Theatre for a change
Charity InterACT in Ghana

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Africa Theatre

AfriCan Theatre Ensemble
Making African theatre accessible to the public... Read more 
African Theatre USA
Providing African Theatre, drama, and entertainment, with Africa pictures online
Click Afrique.com
Links to African theatre & Entertainment
EATI.net
Eastern Africa Theatre Institute.... Read more 
Iroko Theatre Company
Interactive performances in the art of oral storytelling,... Read more 

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Organisations

Governmental

Non Governmental

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Governmental

Ghana

Africa

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Ghana

Ghana50.gov
Ghana was the first country in Sub Sahara Africa that gained independence.... Read more 
Government of Ghana
Official web page of the Government of Ghana.... Read more 

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Africa

Africa Information
African government websites
Finance Wise.com
African Government and Supranational Sites
Keele Guide
The Keele Guide to African Government & Politics... Read more 
Orenga Politics
Oxford Research Network on Government in Africa
University of Michigan
University of Michigan... Read more 

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Non-Governmental

Ghana

Africa

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Ghana

ABANTU
Organisation established by African women based in Europe on gender and policy advocacy
Ghana Centre for Democratic Development
Independent, nonpartisan think tank, dedicated to the promotion of democracy,... Read more 
Culturalcollaborative.org
An educational non-profit that invites people to promote cultural exchange... Read more 
Geocities Action Child Mobilization
Rescue of destitute street and homeless children... Read more 
Ghana Distirct
A network of media and IT professionals... Read more 
Ghanacybergroup
GCG was founded to leverage advances in information technology to strengthen the economy
Ghana Education
GEP has 120 AIDS Awareness workshops,... Read more 
Ghana Rural Action Support Programme
GRASPs aim is to support the rural poor, especially women and children
Ghana Social Marketing Foundation
Mineshield is an HIV/AIDS prevention programme targeted at the mining industry
MAMMOCARE
MAMMOCARE provide breast cancer awareness... Read more 
The Mustard Seed
Serves street children and other needy youths... Read more 
Nakid Foundation
Works for the advancement of health care in kidney diseases,... Read more 
RATAS
Talking on a range of broadcasting issues, serving as a mouthpiece for listeners and viewers
Street Child Rescue
SCR is dedicated to improve the chances of survival for abandoned and homeless children
Youth Creating Change of Ghana
YCC inspires youth to create positive change... Read more 
VolunteerInGhana
Different volunteer work in rural Ghana
Women in Progress
Aims to achieve economic independence of women... Read more 
WORLDwrite.org
WORLDwrite's mission is to challenge prejudices and stereotypes... Read more 

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Africa

Actionaid in Africa
A unique partnership of people... Read more 
ACTSA.org
Action for Southern Africa striving to build... Read more 
Africa Resource
An educational portal that develops and distributes educational materials,... Read more 
AJOL.info
African Journals Online.... Read more 
Amnesty International-South Africa
South Africa website of Amnesty International
AWF
The African Wildlife Foundation
CUL-African Studies
A wealth of information & links about Africa from Columbia University Library
HOPEHIV
Seeking to offer HIV infected/affected children in sub-Saharan Africa support and hope for the future
IFEX-Africa
International Freedom of Expression eXchange.... Read more 
MSF-Africa
Médecins Sans Frontiéres. Doctors without Borders... Read more 
RECLISA
Reducing Exploitive Child Labour in South Africa.
ReliefWeb-Africa
The world’s leading on-line gateway to information... Read more 
Sahims.net
Southern Africa Humanitarian Information... Read more 
Salesian Society
Internationally recognised leaders in the field of schooling for the poor,... Read more 
SARPN
The Southern African Regional Poverty Network... Read more 
UNPAN-Africa
United Nations Online Network in Public Administration... Read more 

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Education

Schools

Universities

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Schools

Ghana Child
Project to build schools in Ghana
Lehigh University
Article on education in Ghana
Wikipedia-High Schools
Listings of High Schools in Ghana

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Test Colleges
Template for Colleges

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Universities

CCU
Central University College
CEFIKS
Centre For Indigenous Knowledge Systems, ... Read more 
CSIR
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Ghanaweb.com
Overview Ghana education
Kwame Nkrumah University
University of Science & Technology
Marshall.edu
School and community programmes, including Kente weaving
UCC
University of Cape Coast
University of Ghana
University of Ghana
VVU
Valley View University

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Travel

Travel Information

Air

Land

Sea

Train

Travel Links

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Travel Information

Advice

General advice & information on safety and security...Read more

Currency

ATM, travellers cheques and banks...Read more

Health Precautions

Vaccinations and emergency contacts...Read more

Passports & Visas

Passport required by all. Visas required by most non-residents except ECOWAS nationals. Ghana Missions and Embassies abroad will assist in issuing individual & group visas.

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Air

Fly-Ghana.com
Ghana International Airlines
Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
Book tickets, flight schedule and information.

Kotoka International Airport is situated 10km north of Accra. Taxis to the city are available (approx. 20 min for £3), or can get the cheaper tro-tros (mini van). It costs GHC 22 000 for international departures and GHC500 for domestic departures (should be included in your ticket), subject to change without warning. The airport has banks/bureaux de change, car hire, restaurants and tourist information. ...Read more

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Land

Car

Public Transport

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Car

Car Rental

There are many car hire companies (but expensive) offering a variety of services and vehicles. ...Read more

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Public Transport

Buses & Taxis

There are several bus lines in Ghana. The most popular is the Intercity STC Coaches which links most of the larger cities in Ghana. Taxi costs can be reduced by pick others along the road. A shared taxi from Accra to Cape Coast is around 80,000 – 100,000 Cedi....Read more

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Sea

The domestic passenger boat on lake Volta runs from Akosombo in the South to Yeji in the North. The trip takes about 24 hours ...Read more

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Train

There are three train lines in Ghana: Accra to Kumasi, Accra to Takoradi, Kumasi to Takoradi...Read more

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Travel Links

Abatours.com
Meet Ghanaians on a personal level, live and work with them in their villages.... Read more 
ananseghana.org
Drumming and Dancing workshops, Ananse Village, Pabi
Ghanaguide
Africaguide’s Ghana site
GhanaTourism.gov
Ghana government tourism site
GhanaTourism.gov Festivals
List of fun festivities
AfricaGuide
Cycle in Ghana
Primitive Ventures.com
Native Ghanian tourist guide
TravelBlog.org
Blogs, forums, facts, photos
VirtualTourist
Worldwide travel community... Read more 
World66.com
An open content travel guide on the Net with good travel resources and links

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Sports

Ghana sports

Africa sports

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Ghana

Africabasket.com
Ghanian men basektball main page
Ghana Football Association
GFA official site provides news, information, photo gallery

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Africa

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Technology

Internet

Technology

Telecommunications

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Internet

Africa Online Ghana
Offering the consumer a number of different products & packages
Cybercafes.com
Internet cafes in Accra and Tema
Ghanakeyboards.com
Ghanaian Languages Support Systems for Windows (winGlass)

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Technology

etranzact.com
e- and m-commerce in Ghana

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Telecommunications

ghanatelecom.com
Ghana largest telecomm company
ghanaweb.com communication
Stats and figures
onetouch.com
OneTouch telecommunication company

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Links

ghanaweb.com
Comprehensive resource about Ghana, including news, information, entertainment and possibilities to get in touch with Ghanaians
Stanford University
Ghana-related links to a variety of organisations, research centres, articles and topics
UN Ghana
Links to a wide variety of topics, jobs, politics, news etc.

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Ghana Map
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Damned by Debt Relief

Damned by Debt Relief challenges the Live8-G8 debt relief jamboree. Eloquent and angry Ghanaians cut through the spin and explain; debt relief provided no new money and draconian conditions applied. Damned by donor diktat, Ghanaians are not impressed by the West’s supposed largesse.

For the full story - a 28-minute documentary is now available on DVD - please visit their website at www.worldwrite.org.uk/damned


Did G8 really make poverty history in Ghana?

"No country in the West would accept that another country or another institution in a foreign land should be determining its priorities and how it spends its money. It is arrogant, insulting. It is repugnant."

This is one of the many harsh, honest quotes in Andrew's hard hitting documentary 'Damned by Debt Relief' released in 2006. The words come from Ghanian editor and journalists Keswi Pratt, who features throughout the 28 minute long documentary which investigates what debt relief really has achieved for Ghana and the Ghanaians.

While many people around the world have applauded the G8's (the seven leading industrial countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US - and Russia) attempt to 'make poverty history', some - less vocal - have heavily criticised the plan and its intentions. Public pressure led world leaders in 2005 to take unprecedented actions to increase development aid and to cancel some selected countries outsized debts. The call has to date been the world’s largest ever anti-poverty movement with organisations representing more than 150 million people in over 100 countries. Global poverty was declared to be eradicated, and made into a phenomenon of the past.

This bold statement was announced in July 2005 when the G8 met in Gleneagles, Scotland to discuss world poverty. This summit followed a worldwide media frenzied campaign, with musicians Bono and Bob Geldof in the forefront, that culminated in big music festivals around the world.

The total amount of debt written off globally by the scheme totalled $72billion. A staggering sum which meant that some of the poorest countries in the world would instead be able to focus their spending on health, education and infrastructure.

Ghana was one of the first 21 countries that was relieved of their entire debt (some $4million) to the International Monetary Fund, (IMF), the World Bank and the African International Fund ( AIF).

A big relief to their strained economy; yet one could ask why Ghana owed so much money to the richest countries on earth in the first place - and why for so long? (Some countries have been left with huge debts after monies being lent to them during dictatorial rule. Indonesia has for example a debt of $140million, money that was of little benefit to its people.)

In order to have their debts cancelled, debtor countries have to reach the so-called HIPC Completion Point (HIPC meaning Highly Indebted Poor Country) which can involve accepting the IMF programme of policy prescriptions, often including trade liberalisation, privatisations and tough budget controls.

The film states that this is a measure to control their economies by being able to scrutinise their accounts and track financial decisions. In the 1990s the World Bank and IMF realised that many of the poorest countries would simply never be able to fully pay of their debts, therefore implementing a scheme where they instead would be able to monitor and have decision making powers of the affected economies. They tell the developing world how to run their affairs, prioritise their investments and insist on regular check-ups to make sure these countries are adhering to 'good policy performance' says Pratt in the film.

This can, and has, lead to a situation where the West dictates what is best for the developing world, where Ghana and the other HIPC will not be able to set their own criteria for growth – making it difficult to develop their future on their own accord . Ghanians are consequently not jumping up and down in joy celebrating on the streets.

Instead, it has resulted in this unrelenting and uncompromising documentary of how the people of Ghana feel that the whole affair has been (badly) handled – and in essence failed to deliver what they needed and hoped for.

Debt-relief countries: Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

See more at www.makepovertyhistory.org

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Damned by Debt Relief
Damned by Debt Relief
Provocative documentary criticising debt relief and the 2005 make poverty history campaign

Ghana's Roosting Bird
Ghana's Roosting Bird
How rice imports and a lack of subsidies from the government impact on the farming community