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 on the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions...Less 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 in the run up of the Battle of Ideas film festival October 2006...Less Worldbank Worldbank article... Read more on The Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative....Less Worldwrite.org The organisation behind the film
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
Total: 23,832,495 ... Read more note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)...Less
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)
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
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 It acts as a central news collection agent, gathering news from regional and district capitals...Less Ghana Review International GRi is an independent publication without affiliation to any political party... Read more or interest group and is a valuable source of information for Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians wherever they live....Less Ghanaweb.com Comprehensive news site with links and multimedia Hi Ghana.com A well laid out daily with information on many topics,... Read more including tourism and development projects....Less 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 and other newspapers. Readers may comment on articles...Less
Africa-Interactive.net Africa Interactive foundation’s mission... Read more is to strengthen media in Africa by stimulating individual African media talent...Less Afrik.com News site in French Afrol.com African News Agency.... Read more The only independent news agency dedicated exclusively to Africa...Less AllAfrica.com News from 125 African news organisations in English and French East African Business Week Weekly East African business newspaper.... Read more Covers Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania...Less The East African Articles from the latest issue of the Kenya newspaper.... Read more Part of the Nation Media group which covers Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, news...Less IRIN News.org Part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,... Read more provides content about emergencies in Africa....Less JHR.org Journalists for Human Rights Nation Media In-depth coverage on Africa news, politics,... Read more regional business news, magazines and sports...Less OneWorld.net-Africa Daily world news, views, campaigns,... Read more events and indepth coverage on human rights and sustainable development...Less Panapress Africa, News agency, information, media,... Read more multimedia in Arabic,English & French...Less Stanford University Excellent site for African news links World Press.org-Africa Daily world news from African newspapers
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 and hundreds of journalists offering grassroots, non-corporate coverage & a democratic media outlet for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth...Less IPS News Inter Press Service - a leading civil society news agency...
Read more that act as an independent voice from the South, delving into untold stories about globalisation and developement...Less 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 events, and campaigns relating to human rights and sustainable development...Less Online newspapers Worldwide links to newspapers..... Read more Search by region and country...Less 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 featuring translations from thousands of newspapers in more than 20 languages...Less
Ghanaweb.com Information on Ghanaian television Ghanaweb.com Diasporas Television Broadcasts from the Amsterdam-based Ghanaian television station Gye Nyame TV
Africast Live news, sports and entertainment from local broadcasters in several African countries Afrovision Videos on music, tv-shows and sports and user videos
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
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 which has been online since 1998 at Africanhiphop.com playing those tunes that you won’t hear anywhere else...Less 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 to more than 40 countries in Africa in more than 60 languages and dialects...Less
BBC World Service Renown British Broadcasting Corporation World Service Radio-locator Links to over 10,000 radio station web pages... Read more and over 2500 audio streams from radio stations in the U.S. and around the world...Less Radio Station World Global Radio Directory
Africultures.com Providing information on and in-depth analysis of contemporary cultural... Read more expressions in Africa and the diaspora. In English & French...Less Africa e Mediterraneo An interdisciplinary journal of African cultural studies,... Read more published three times a year by the Lai-momo Press. In English & French...Less African Wildlife Foundation The leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa Behind the Mask Through journalistic activism, strives to change negative... Read more attitudes towards homosexuality and same sex traditions in Africa...Less 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
Africa Cinemas A new impetus to the exhibition of African,... Read more European and French-language films in Africa. In English & French...Less 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 the Caribbean, North and South America and Europe...Less 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
Bernard Woma Students from around the globe, live and work at the center,
...
Read more where they pursue studies in traditional drumming, dancing, xylophone music and visual arts
...Less Dagara Music Master of Dagara music, is one of the leading traditional African musicians in Ghana....Read more View sample videoclips and learn about Dagara music and culture...Less Ghanian hiphop bands Independent, uncensored site that unifies everybody who is inspired by hip hop...Read more and by the cultures of Africa. The info at Africanhiphop.com is provided mostly by the artists themselves...Less Kusum Gboo Dance Ensemble Kusum Gboo Dance Ensemble....Read more The group performs traditional African Music and Dance alongside their own creative and choreographed dance pieces. Updates on performances, workshops, CD releases, mailing list...Less Rockydawuni.com Ghanaian reggae singer
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 information, news, discussion forum and mail lists...Less 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 - The largest archive of African music in sub-Saharan Africa...Less 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
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble Making African theatre accessible to the public... Read more through performances of old and new creations, workshops and staged productions...Less 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 Promoting theatre from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda...Less Iroko Theatre Company Interactive performances in the art of oral storytelling,... Read more drama, music and dance to help educate and enhance the creative potential, self-confidence and self-esteem of children and young people...Less
Ghana50.gov Ghana was the first country in Sub Sahara Africa that gained independence.... Read more 2007 marks 50 years of independence. Biographies of presidents, how to invest in Ghana, history of Ghana, visitor information, facts about Ghana, events & performances etc....Less Government of Ghana Official web page of the Government of Ghana.... Read more General information, investment, travel, foreign policy, Ghana embassies...Less
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 good governance and the development of a liberal political and economic environment...Less Culturalcollaborative.org An educational non-profit that invites people to promote cultural exchange... Read more and understanding through the artist...Less Geocities Action Child Mobilization Rescue of destitute street and homeless children... Read more through extensive and innovative initiatives...Less Ghana Distirct A network of media and IT professionals... Read more dedicated to developing this website to promote local governance...Less Ghanacybergroup GCG was founded to leverage advances in information technology to strengthen the economy Ghana Education GEP has 120 AIDS Awareness workshops,... Read more 8 libraries, 2 documentaries and one mobile hospital design...Less 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 and serves as an information, screening, treatment and resource centre...Less The Mustard Seed Serves street children and other needy youths... Read more through educational scholarships, different programmes, micro loans, methods of self-financing...Less Nakid Foundation Works for the advancement of health care in kidney diseases,... Read more providing assistance, advice and counselling to kidney patients...Less 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 within their communities and lives through leadership training, educational and career planning...Less VolunteerInGhana Different volunteer work in rural Ghana Women in Progress Aims to achieve economic independence of women... Read more and alleviate poverty through small women-owned businesses...Less WORLDwrite.org WORLDwrite's mission is to challenge prejudices and stereotypes... Read more by giving young people a unique opportunity to see the world from a fresh perspective through a first-hand, investigative filmmaking experience. The charity helps create links between young people across the globe, encouraging them to learn from their peers, develop new skills, expand their horizons and champion the aspirations of newfound friends....Less
Actionaid in Africa A unique partnership of people... Read more whose mission is to work with poor and excluded people to eradicate poverty and injustice globally...Less ACTSA.org Action for Southern Africa striving to build... Read more a better future, working for peace, democracy and development across the region...Less Africa Resource An educational portal that develops and distributes educational materials,... Read more academic research and products on Africa and Diaspora...Less AJOL.info African Journals Online.... Read more A service to provide access to African published research, and increase worldwide knowledge of indigenous scholarship...Less 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 Reporting on violations of freedom of expression from Africa...Less MSF-Africa Médecins Sans Frontiéres. Doctors without Borders... Read more provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries...Less RECLISA Reducing Exploitive Child Labour in South Africa. ReliefWeb-Africa The world’s leading on-line gateway to information... Read more (documents and maps) on humanitarian emergencies and disaster...Less Sahims.net Southern Africa Humanitarian Information... Read more Management Network - Articles & links to Humanitarian work in Southern Africa...Less Salesian Society Internationally recognised leaders in the field of schooling for the poor,... Read more focusing on the needs of abandoned and neglected children and youths...Less SARPN The Southern African Regional Poverty Network... Read more promotes debate and knowledge sharing on poverty reduction processes in Southern Africa...Less UNPAN-Africa United Nations Online Network in Public Administration... Read more and Finance provides a comprehensive set of e.g. databases covering Governance, statistics, training, web directory...Less
CCU Central University College CEFIKS Centre For Indigenous Knowledge Systems, ... Read more devoted solely to the research, monitoring, documentation, and coordination of indigenous knowledge systems...Less 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
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.
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
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
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)
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.
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.