FE43DF93-13CD-493E-BEF2-A77A9E7D6926 Copenhagen Consensus Center Logo
Copenhagen Consensus Center

Investments in digitization, malaria, maternal health and TB are highly cost-effective

Recently, an eminent panel of seven distinguished economists met in Accra to evaluate more than 1000 pages of research across all sectors of government. 

Prioritizing our global development needs: The way to go!

Our work to disseminate the results of the research to decision-makers will continue in 2021 encouraged by the Daily Graphic's editorial.

The economic case for prioritising the fight against TB

Out of the top ten best solutions for Ghana, three of the best interventions had the goal of tackling tuberculosis.

Better Nutrition For Better Lives

Malnutrition in the first years of life has life-long consequences. Lack of nutrition hinders brain development that leads to lower performance in school and hence lower productivity in adult life.

Prioritising Malaria: Ane of the Best Ways to Save Lives

It turns out that malaria prevention strategies are some of the very most effective health interventions. For every cedi spent on the most effective policy, diagnostic testing, would create 133 cedis of societal goo...

Digitization the best way forward for Ghana

Digitization can help streamline bureaucracy and cut down waiting time and uncertainty for ordinary citizens when applying for a passport, selling or buying property, or setting up a new business. 

Maintain Ambulances to Save Lives in Rural Ghana

One of the high value-for-money propositions which is placed into the top-ten list for the Ghana Priorities project is to maintain the rural emergency transport system.

More Prosperity, Better Health

The Ghana Essential Health Intervention Program (GEHIP) is not primarily about more medicine or medical machinery. It is about ensuring that Ghana’s rural health system works better.

Land-title Reform for a More Prosperous Ghana

New research shows that building a comprehensive, digitized and accurate national-based system of land registration, can help Ghana unlock enormous economic opportunities. 

Eminent economists to prioritise best policies for Ghana’s future

The Ghana Priorities Eminent Panel Conference was opened in Accra, as reported by multiple news outlets such as Ghana News Agency, Starr FM, Daily Mail, and GhanaWeb. 

Costs of moderate COVID-19 lockdown vastly exceed the benefits

In this special report on the effects of a hypothetical moderate lockdown, a reduction in the COVID-19 death toll is weighed against the resulting increase in malnutrition, less health outreach, lost education, lost...

Sensible budgets are not Ghana’s forte. But there is hope

The Econmoist published a  great write-up on our Ghana Priorities project research. 

    Ghana Priorities

    The Ghanaian economy has been growing swiftly, with remarkable GDP growth higher than five percent for two years running. This robust growth means added pressure from special interest groups who demand more public spending on certain projects.

    But like every country, Ghana lacks the money to do everything that citizens would like. It has to prioritise between many worthy opportunities. 

    What if economic science and data could cut through the noise from interest groups, and help the allocation of additional money, to improve the budgeting process and ensure that each cedi can do even more for Ghana? With limited resources and time, it is crucial that focus is informed by what will do the most good for each cedi spent.

    The Ghana Priorities project worked with stakeholders across the country to find, analyze, rank, and disseminate the best solutions for the country.

    We engaged people and institutions from all parts of society, through newspapers, radio, and TV, along with NGOs, decision-makers, sector experts, and businesses to propose the most relevant solutions to these challenges. We commissioned some of the best economists in Ghana and around the world to calculate the social, environmental, and economic costs and benefits of these proposals, producing groundbreaking new research that not only highlights smart policies in each specific area but produces a menu of spending options.

    After the groundbreaking new research was available, we asked everyone - from Nobel Laureates to everyday citizens - to set their priorities for the state, sparking a nationwide conversation about what the most effective and efficient solutions are for Ghana.

    In a hurry? Download the overview of all cost-benefit research results. 

    The smartest solutions for Ghana’s future development

    An eminent panel of seven distinguished economists met in Accra to evaluate more than 1000 pages of research across all sectors of government. The panel includes Finance Minister Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Planning Minister Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, former Finance Minister Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, Prof. Augustin Fosu from the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance, Prof. Eugenia Amporfu from KNUST, and the Nobel Laureate economist, Prof. Finn Kydland.

    Having read all the research, the panel spent three days discussing and challenging the findings with all the specialist economists. In the end, the panel’s hard task was to prioritize where Ghana can best spend public funds.

    Copenhagen Consensus Center director Dr. Bjorn Lomborg said:

    We are very interested in continuing to work with Ghana to help make sure that this research translates into action on value-for-money policies which will help to boost the country’s social development and economic potential.”

    The Research

    The Ghana Priorities research explored 79 solutions to help Ghana, covering themes from poverty and health to education, infrastructure and gender equality. In total, more than 1,000+ pages of groundbreaking, made-for-Ghana research were written by leading local and international economists.

    Policy Interventions for Benefit-Cost Research

    The Ghana Priorities Reference Group consisting of experts from the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, academia, the media, and identifiable groups, reviewed the list 400+ interventions and selected top and secondary priorities for further research.

    Policy Validation Seminar

    The Copenhagen Consensus Centre in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), conducted a Policy Validation Seminar for the Ghana Priorities Project on 27 of June 2019.