The report presents a broad overview of various dimensions of inequality in Ghana between 2005 and 2017, using data from the Ghana Living Standards Surveys of the Ghana Statistical Service. Inequality is explored across a number of different dimensions, such as household consumption expenditure, wage income among paid employees and household wealth indices. The first two waves of the Ghana Socioeconomic Panel Survey (GSEPS) for 2009 and 2014 are further employed as a complementary resource data set in the exploration of household dynamics in economic and welfare mobility among Ghanaians.

Presenting the main report, Dr. Richmond Atta-Ankomah of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at University of Ghana, indicated that although poverty had generally declined over the years, consumption inequality had persisted. He further noted that consumption inequality wis not particularly driven by any specific grouping. He stressed that although inequality has always been lower among female-headed households compared to male-headed households, both groups had experienced increases in inequality over time.

In concluding, Dr. Atta-Ankomah reiterated that in spite of the stable and high growth amidst the sustained reduction in poverty in Ghana, there was the need for the country to pay attention to inclusive growth policies. He suggested that such policies would need to enhance access to social amenities, address regional disparities in social and economic infrastructure investments, and also expand the coverage of social protection programs, while addressing the labour market challenges that women face.

Two other research papers that were also funded under the AFD facility were  presented as part of the launch meeting. They were written by Drs. Nkechi Owoo and Monica Lambon-Quayefio, both from the Department of Economics at University of Ghana and researchers associated with ACEIR in Ghana. Their presentations focused on on the dynamics of inequality and the relationship between inequality of opportunity and consumption inequality and education outcomes in Ghana, respectively.

The coordinator of ACEIR node in Ghana, Prof. Robert Osei of the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, the Director of ACEIR, Prof. Murray Leibbrandt of University of Cape Town, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, the Secretary-General of ARUA, Prof. Felix Asante, the Pro-VC (ORID) at University of Ghana and Dr. Christophe Cottet, the Country Director of AFD in Ghana were present at the launch meeting. They took turns to share their thoughts on inequality in Ghana as well as the diagnostic report.