The changing nature of UK aid in Ghana

UK aid has been “mostly effective” at helping some of the poorest and most vulnerable in Ghana – but as the country works to become less reliant on aid, the UK should take care not to scale back its financial support too quickly.

Status: Completed
Published: 12 February 2020
Type: Country portfolio review
Subject: Country focus, Transitioning development partnerships
Assessment: Green/Amber
Location: Ghana
Lead commissioner: Tamsyn Barton
SDGs covered:No poverty, Reduced inequalities, Partnerships for the goals, Good health and wellbeing, Quality education, Gender equality, Decent work and economic growth, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

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We published our review on the changing nature of UK aid in Ghana in February 2020 and made six recommendations. We’ve followed up on the government’s progress towards implementing our recommendations three times. Find out more on the ‘Further scrutiny’ tab.

Summary

Although still affected by significant poverty and inequality, Ghana is working to move “beyond aid” after achieving the status of lower-middle-income country in 2011. As Ghana’s economy transforms, the country’s development partnership with the UK is also changing. The UK has invested approximately £2.8 billion in bilateral aid in Ghana over the past two decades. Since 2011, the UK’s aid portfolio has been reoriented towards helping Ghana overcome its economic and governance challenges, and towards mobilising the resources to help Ghana finance its own development. At the same time, the UK has continued to finance education, health and social protection programmes in Ghana, but with less funding.

This country portfolio review assesses the relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of all UK official development assistance (ODA) flows to Ghana relative to the UK’s following objectives:

Transforming Ghana’s economy: contributing to inclusive growth in Ghana so that the benefits from a growing economy are shared widely among the population.
Leaving no one behind: tackling extreme poverty and vulnerability in Ghana, including through addressing gender disparities.
Strengthening Ghanaian institutions: supporting Ghana in developing competent and sustainable institutions.
Transitioning the UK/Ghana partnership: managing transition away from a traditional aid relationship in a manner that safeguards past development gains.

Our review covers almost all UK ODA to Ghana from 2011 to 2019. It includes almost all bilateral aid from all UK government departments as well as the UK’s imputed share of multilateral aid to Ghana.