Ghana Strategy Support Program (GSSP)

Abstract

Since 2010, when the country reached lower-middle-income status, Ghana’s economic performance has been highly variable. Growth was rapid from 2011 to 2013—largely due to strong performance in the oil and gas sector—as the economy expanded by more than 10 percent annually, but slumped to 3.8 percent from 2014 to 2016. In 2017, growth picked up to 6.3 percent and is expected to be among the highest in Africa in 2018, at a projected 8.3 percent. The agriculture and natural resource sectors account for 41.5 percent of employment and nearly a third of gross domestic product (GDP). Labor is moving out of agriculture, but predominantly into low-productivity services sectors rather than into high-productivity manufacturing. Average agricultural growth hovered around 5 percent from 2014 to 2017. To increase productivity and boost economic growth, Ghana must continue to invest in agriculture and, to promote transformation, should facilitate the development of agro-industries to diversify agriculture. Ghana’s inconsistent growth performance warrants a fresh look at rigorous research to inform the country’s development strategy. The Ghana Strategy Support Program (GSSP), implemented by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Ghana, was launched in 2005 and is currently in its third phase (2014–2018). overall objective of IFPRI/GSSP is to conduct research and advise on strategic policy options to support agricultural growth, rural development, and economic transformation in Ghana