Buoyed by a strong economy and dramatic increases in the yields of staple food crops, Ghana reduced undernourishment more rapidly than any other country in the world between 1980 and 1996. Average food intake soared from 1 790 calories per day to more than 2 600 calories. The gains came entirely from increased food production, with imports remaining virtually unchanged. The introduction of improved varieties of cassava helped boost yields of this main staple by almost 40 percent. Yields of yams, maize and rice also improved dramatically, and the vigorous economy encouraged farmers to increase the area under crops by more than 25 percent. Overall, the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.3 percent. The increased prosperity brought marked improvements in sanitation, health and education. The proportion of the population with access to safe water increased from 35 to 65 percent. Illiteracy was reduced substantially, from 57 to 36 percent. Ghana's period of rapid growth was sparked by reforms to invigorate the economy after a long period of decline. A special Programme to Mitigate the Social Costs of Adjustment and other social programmes helped protect vulnerable groups from possible negative effects of the reforms. Despite Ghana's remarkable progress, almost one-third of the population remains poor, and 10 percent live in pockets of extreme poverty in rural areas. These high levels of poverty mean that food insecurity and vulnerability persist. Continued economic growth and increased opportunities for off-farm employment will be crucial to maintain the rate of progress.
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