What Is Ghana Doing Right?

Ghana has long been seen as the “golden child” of West Africa, and not just because of its substantial gold deposits. It was the first country to tear away from the British in 1957, and in the last decade a new constitution has proved its democratic fervor successful. Now Ghana continues to glimmer on the golden coast, impressing the international arena by being on track to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

When I read the recent interview with Jeffrey Sachs in the Christian Science Monitor about Ghana fulfilling the MDGs by 2015, I could not help but feel a swelling sense of pride. I spent five months in Ghana during my undergraduate days, and the welcome and support I received there gave me a deep connection with the country.

I realize that being in Ghana for such a short amount of time does not give me a full understanding of the politics and the people. And instead of filing this blog with cliché prose about my experience in the developing world, I can let you know that some of the best lessons I learned were while sitting in class with political science students at the University of Ghana, Legon, and finding out their perspectives on economics, their government, U.S. involvement in Africa and everything else in between.

In one particular class on economic development we debated Ghana’s plan of action concerning newly discovered oil off the coast. There was an excitement in the air, a sort of buzzing as everyone digested what the "black gold" could do for the country. But there was also a fear, some students excitedly pointing fingers to Nigerian foreign exchange students, scared of Ghana repeating its neighbor’s mistakes. Oil production would of course need to start as soon as possible, but not at the neglect of other agriculture exports, especially cocoa.

This discussion illustrates a tiny portion of why I think Ghana is making the mark with the MDGs. Ghana has long made investment in education a priority. These students were lucky enough to get to the university level, where they receive not only the guidance they need to understand Ghana’s role in the international arena, but they also have a forum where they can openly discuss what they think should be done. These are the students that will one day go on to lead their country.

Of course education is not the only reason Ghana is headed toward the 2015 finish line for the MDGs. As the article points out, a huge increase in foreign direct investment in 2011 (over $4 billion) has helped Ghana tackle many sectors, including health, poverty and gender equality.

As in any country in the world, there is much room for improvement. People remain living lives they do not want to be – and should not have to be – living. But if Ghana continues to invest in its youth, in education, in helping send students to university where they can debate how to keep their country and economy growing, then Ghana will carry on its tradition of being the “golden child” of West Africa.