Illiteracy in Ghana: Over 7.9 Million People Struggle To Read And Write

Ghana is a country of rich cultural diversity, natural beauty, and economic potential. It is also a country that faces many challenges, such as poverty, inequality, and corruption. One of the most pressing issues that Ghana has to deal with is illiteracy, which affects millions of its citizens and hinders its development and progress.

What is illiteracy and why does it matter?

Illiteracy is the inability to read and write with understanding. It is a form of social exclusion that deprives people of the basic skills and knowledge they need to participate in society and improve their lives. Illiteracy can have negative impacts on various aspects of human development, such as:

• Health: Illiterate people are more likely to suffer from poor health, malnutrition, and infectious diseases. They are also less likely to access health services, follow medical instructions, and practice preventive measures.
• Education: Illiterate people are less likely to enroll in school, complete their education, and acquire the skills and qualifications they need for employment and livelihood. They are also less likely to support the education of their children and foster a culture of learning in their families and communities.
• Economy: Illiterate people are more likely to be unemployed, underemployed, or engaged in low-productivity and low-income activities. They are also less likely to benefit from economic opportunities, access financial services, and participate in the formal sector.
• Democracy: Illiterate people are more likely to be excluded from political processes, civic engagement, and human rights. They are also more likely to be vulnerable to manipulation, exploitation, and discrimination.

How illiterate is Ghana?

According to the latest data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), 7.9 million people aged six years and older in Ghana are illiterate¹. This means that they cannot read and write with understanding in any language. This figure represents 25.2% of the population in this age group, which is higher than the average of 21.4% for sub-Saharan Africa².

The illiteracy rate in Ghana varies by sex, age, region, and locality. The GSS report reveals that:

• Women are more illiterate than men: 30.1% of women are illiterate, compared to 20.1% of men¹.
• Older people are more illiterate than younger people: 47.8% of people aged 65 years and older are illiterate, compared to 10.5% of people aged 15 to 24 years¹.
• Rural areas are more illiterate than urban areas: 33.9% of people in rural areas are illiterate, compared to 16.6% of people in urban areas¹.
• Northern regions are more illiterate than southern regions: The Savannah Region has the highest illiteracy rate of 67.2%, followed by the North East Region with 64.4%, and the Upper West Region with 60.3%. The Greater Accra Region has the lowest illiteracy rate of 12.1%, followed by the Ashanti Region with 21.9%, and the Eastern Region with 24.3%¹.

The illiteracy rate in Ghana has decreased over time, but not significantly. Between 2010 and 2021, the illiteracy rate dropped from 28.5% to 25.2%, which is a 3.3 percentage point decrease¹. However, the number of illiterate people increased from 6.7 million to 7.9 million, which is a 1.2 million increase¹. This is due to the population growth and the low literacy achievement among the youth and adult cohorts¹.

What are the causes and consequences of illiteracy in Ghana?

Illiteracy in Ghana is a complex and multifaceted problem that has various causes and consequences. Some of the main factors that contribute to illiteracy in Ghana are:

• Poverty: Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of illiteracy. Many poor families cannot afford to send their children to school or provide them with adequate learning materials and environments. Many poor adults also lack the time, resources, and motivation to pursue literacy education or skills training. Poverty also limits the access and quality of education and health services, which affect the learning outcomes and well-being of the population.
• Gender inequality: Gender inequality is another cause and consequence of illiteracy. Many girls and women face discrimination, violence, and cultural barriers that prevent them from attending school or continuing their education. Many girls and women also bear the burden of domestic and care work, which reduces their time and opportunities for learning and personal development. Gender inequality also affects the status, rights, and empowerment of women in society, which affect their participation and contribution to the economy and democracy.
• Regional disparity: Regional disparity is a further cause and consequence of illiteracy. Many regions in Ghana, especially in the north, suffer from underdevelopment, marginalization, and neglect. Many communities in these regions lack the infrastructure, facilities, and resources to provide quality education and health services. Many people in these regions also face challenges such as food insecurity, environmental degradation, and conflict, which affect their livelihoods and security.
• Policy and governance: Policy and governance are also important factors that influence illiteracy in Ghana. Many policies and programs that aim to address illiteracy are inadequate, ineffective, or poorly implemented. Many stakeholders and actors that are involved in literacy and education are not coordinated, accountable, or transparent. Many challenges and gaps exist in the planning, financing, monitoring, and evaluation of literacy and education interventions.

Illiteracy in Ghana has serious and far-reaching implications for the country’s development and progress. Some of the main effects of illiteracy in Ghana are:

• Low human development: Illiteracy lowers the human development of the country, which measures the well-being and capabilities of the people. Ghana ranks 138th out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index, which is below the average of 156 for sub-Saharan Africa³. Illiteracy affects the health, education, and income of the people, which are the key components of human development.
• Low economic growth: Illiteracy hampers the economic growth of the country, which measures the increase in the value of goods and services produced by the country. Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate was 0.4% in 2020, which was below the average of 1.9% for sub-Saharan Africa⁴. Illiteracy affects the productivity, innovation, and competitiveness of the country, which are the key drivers of economic growth.
• Low social cohesion: Illiteracy undermines the social cohesion of the country, which measures the degree of trust, cooperation, and inclusion among the people. Ghana ranks 79th out of 180 countries in the Social Cohesion Index, which is below the average of 87 for sub-Saharan Africa⁵. Illiteracy affects the diversity, equity, and participation of the country, which are the key elements of social cohesion.

What are the solutions and opportunities for illiteracy in Ghana?

Illiteracy in Ghana is a daunting and urgent challenge that requires collective and concerted action. Some of the main solutions and opportunities for illiteracy in Ghana are:

• Universal and quality education: Universal and quality education is the foundation and the goal of literacy. All children and adults in Ghana should have access to free, compulsory, and quality education that is relevant, inclusive, and equitable. Education should also be responsive to the needs, interests, and aspirations of the learners and the society. Education should also be aligned with the national and global development agendas, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063⁶.
• Lifelong and life-wide learning: Lifelong and life-wide learning is the process and the outcome of literacy. All people in Ghana should have opportunities to learn throughout their lives and in various contexts, such as formal, non-formal, and informal settings. Learning should also be flexible, diverse, and holistic, covering various domains, such as literacy, numeracy, digital, civic, and vocational skills. Learning should also be recognized, validated, and certified, to enhance the employability and mobility of the learners.
• Multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral partnership: Multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral partnership is the mechanism and the catalyst of literacy. All stakeholders and actors in Ghana should work together to address illiteracy, such as the government, civil society, private sector, academia, media, and international organizations. All sectors and domains in Ghana should also collaborate to support literacy, such as education, health, agriculture, environment, and culture. Partnership should also be based on the principles of coordination, accountability, and transparency, to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of literacy interventions.

Illiteracy in Ghana is a complex and multifaceted problem that has various causes and consequences. However, it is also a solvable and preventable problem that has various solutions and opportunities. By addressing illiteracy, Ghana can achieve its vision of becoming a prosperous and inclusive country that provides a high quality of life for all its citizens.

FAQ

• What is the literacy rate in Ghana?

• The literacy rate in Ghana is the percentage of people aged 15 years and older who can read and write with understanding in any language. According to the latest data from the GSS, the literacy rate in Ghana is 74.8%, which means that 25.2% of the population in this age group is illiterate.
• What are the benefits of literacy?
  • Literacy is a human right and a public good that brings various benefits to individuals, communities, and societies. Some of the benefits of literacy are:
    • Literacy improves the health and well-being of people, as they can access and use health information, services, and products, and adopt healthy behaviors and lifestyles.
    • Literacy enhances the education and learning outcomes of people, as they can acquire and apply knowledge, skills, and competencies, and pursue further education and lifelong learning opportunities.
    • Literacy boosts the economic and social development of people, as they can access and use economic opportunities, financial services, and social protection, and contribute to the productivity and innovation of the country.
    • Literacy strengthens the democracy and governance of people, as they can participate and engage in political processes, civic activities, and human rights, and hold the authorities and institutions accountable and transparent.
• What are the challenges and opportunities of literacy in Ghana?
  • Literacy in Ghana faces many challenges and opportunities that require collective and concerted action. Some of the challenges and opportunities of literacy in Ghana are:
    • Poverty: Poverty is a major challenge that affects the access and quality of education and literacy in Ghana. Many people in Ghana live below the poverty line and cannot afford to send their children to school or provide them with adequate learning materials and environments. Poverty also limits the access and quality of health and other social services that affect the learning outcomes and well-being of the people. However, poverty also provides an opportunity to invest in education and literacy as a means to reduce poverty and inequality, and promote inclusive and sustainable development.
    • Gender: Gender is a significant challenge that affects the participation and achievement of girls and women in education and literacy in Ghana. Many girls and women face discrimination, violence, and cultural barriers that prevent them from attending school or continuing their education. Many girls and women also bear the burden of domestic and care work, which reduces their time and opportunities for learning and personal development. However, gender also provides an opportunity to promote gender equality and empowerment of girls and women through education and literacy, and to harness their potential and contribution to the society and the economy.
    • Region: Region is a critical challenge that affects the distribution and quality of education and literacy in Ghana. Many regions in Ghana, especially in the north, suffer from underdevelopment, marginalization, and neglect. Many communities in these regions lack the infrastructure, facilities, and resources to provide quality education and literacy services. Many people in these regions also face challenges such as food insecurity, environmental degradation, and conflict, which affect their livelihoods and security. However, region also provides an opportunity to foster regional integration and cooperation through education and literacy, and to address the root causes and consequences of regional disparity and conflict.
    • Policy: Policy is a key challenge that affects the effectiveness and efficiency of education and literacy in Ghana. Many policies and programs that aim to address education and literacy are inadequate, ineffective, or poorly implemented. Many stakeholders and actors that are involved in education and literacy are not coordinated, accountable, or transparent. Many challenges and gaps exist in the planning, financing, monitoring, and evaluation of education and literacy interventions. However, policy also provides an opportunity to improve the policy and governance of education and literacy in Ghana, and to align them with the national and global development agendas, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.