An Assessment of Multidimensional Poverty Trends in Ghana
Abstract:
This
study aims at establishing the trends in multidimensional poverty in Ghana from
2011 to 2020 using intertemporal and counting approach. Alkire and Foster methodology
was applied to identify and analyse the data. The study adopted the global multidimensional
poverty indicators made up of three dimensions – health, education, and standard
of living – and the ten indicators of which equal weights are attached to each dimension,
and the same weights for the indicators within each dimension. It was found that
Ghana did very well in reducing multidimensional poverty in all the six indicators
within the standard of living dimension both in absolute and relative terms. However,
the nation increased its multidimensional poverty in education and health dimensions.
The Northern region continues to be the poorest region with the lowest reduction
in multidimensional poverty in absolute and relative terms. Overall, multidimensional
poverty reduced significantly both in absolute and relative terms at the national
and regional levels. As compared with Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana performed better
in decreasing multidimensional poverty than the mean of the sub-region in almost
all the dimensions and indicators, both in absolute and relative terms. Government
should sustain this feat and improve upon it to eliminate poverty in all its forms
by 2030 as envisaged by Sustainable Development Goal 1. Government must invest heavily
in education and health as well as agriculture and rural development to reduce poverty.
Strategy that targets the poorest regions should be implemented to reduce poverty.
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