Ghana ranks 7th in latest Mo Ibrahim Index

Ghana has ranked 7th with a score of 66, out of the 53 African countries, in the latest '2011 Ibrahim Index of African Governance' released by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation on Monday. Established in 2006, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is an organisation that supports good governance and great leadership in Africa. The Index provides full details of Ghana’s performance across the four categories of governance as assessed by the Index: Safety & Rule of Law, Participation & Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development. Mauritius took the top spot with a score of 82 followed by Cape Verde with 79, Botswana came third with 76, Seychelles ranked 4th with 73 and South Africa making up the top five with a score of 71. According to the 2011 Ibrahim Index of African Governance which was launched today, • Ghana scored 66 (out of 100) for governance quality and is ranked 7th out of 53 countries. • Ghana scored higher than the regional average for West Africa which is 51. • Ghana scored higher than the continental average which is 50. • At sub-category level, Ghana’s highest rank is in Rights (3rd) and lowest in Infrastructure (29th). • Over the past five years Ghana's overall governance quality improved (between 2006 and 2010). • Ghana ranked 2nd out of 16 countries in West Africa. Commenting on the 2011 Index, Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Foundation, said, “We have seen this year that Africa’s young majority are no longer willing to stand for the selective approach to governance adopted by many of our continent’s governments. "Our young people are demanding a holistic, equitable and inclusive approach to the management of their countries. The Index findings echo these demands – achievements in economic management and human development, however striking, will not be realised if a democratic deficit persists. "Africa’s success stories are delivering the whole range of the public goods and services that citizens have a right to expect and are forging a path that we hope more will follow. ” The bottom five for the year are Central African Republic, Congo Democratic Republic, Zimbabwe and Chad.