Ghana's economic rebound is lifting the collective mood across the nation. In the first quarter of 2025, GDP grew by 5.3%, driven by a strong performance in the services sector—particularly ICT—and a solid boost from agriculture. Recent upgrades to the country’s credit rating and a new financial package approved by the IMF have given both policymakers and citizens a sense of stability and hope. However, the optimism is measured. Long-standing challenges such as gold smuggling, which has cost the country billions in lost export value, and deep-seated debt in the energy sector still cast a shadow over broader economic happiness.
In health, there have been promising strides. Over 190 health facilities have been linked to a national electronic health network, which is helping modernize patient care and disease monitoring. However, the picture is uneven. More than 2 million Ghanaians remain food-insecure, especially in rural areas, and environmental risks such as pollution from illegal mining continue to affect public health. While the government is working to address these issues, from community health interventions to nutrition aid, much work remains to ensure that good health becomes a universal experience, not just a city-based privilege.
The environment is both a resource and a battleground. While gold production is rising, it comes with serious costs—rivers are being polluted, forests destroyed, and entire communities disrupted by unregulated mining. Urban centers like Accra face additional problems: water scarcity, poor waste management, and rising air pollution. E-waste and plastic clutter are especially problematic in areas like Agbogbloshie. On a more hopeful note, infrastructure projects connected to continental trade ambitions and national development plans are underway, promising better roads, cleaner energy, and expanded transport links. Whether these will come with stronger environmental protections remains to be seen.
So how happy are Ghanaians, really? There is a growing sense of cautious optimism. Economic signals are improving, new digital and health systems are emerging, and people feel a stronger sense of direction from their leaders. But for happiness to become deeper and more widespread, growth must become more inclusive, more sustainable, and more responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens. In a word, Ghana is hopeful—but not yet content .
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