Ghana ranks 7th on 2012 Ibrahim Index of African Governance

Scoring an overall 66  out of 100 Ghana stands at the 7th position out of 52 countries on the 2012 Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) released today October 15, 2012.

The country ranked 7th on the 2011 Index.

Out of 16 countries in West Africa, Ghana ranked 2nd after Cape Verde, the Index states.

The Index indicates that governance in Africa has improved since 2000.

“In the last 12 years, at the continental level, there have been improvements in 11 out the 14 sub-categories of the IIAG. The largest improvements are shown in the sub-categories of Health, Rural Sector, and Gender, with all indicators showing improvements since 2000,” it says.

The Index notes that at indicator level, of the 88 indicators included in the IIAG, the largest improvements appear in Cross-Border Tensions, Core International Human Rights Conventions, Legislation on Violence against Women, Ratio of External Debt Service to Exports, Digital Connectivity and Anti-Retroviral Treatment Provision.

According to information emailed to ghanabusinessnews.com by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, it says the Index is the most comprehensive collection of qualitative and quantitative data that provides an annual assessment of governance performance in every African country.

The Index notes that Ghana scored higher than the continental average which is 51 and received its highest score in the Safety & Rule of Law category (72) and its lowest score in the Sustainable Economic Opportunity category (54).

The country also scored highest rank in Rights sub-category level (3rd) and lowest in Infrastructure (29th).

“Between 2000 and 2011 Ghana’s overall governance score improved,” the Index says.

On the sub-category of Education, the country ranks 12th and on Gender it ranks 17th.

The Index also says while governance continues to improve in many countries, some of Africa’s regional powerhouses – Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa – have shown unfavourable governance performance since 2006.

“Over the past six years, all four countries have declined in two of the four main IIAG categories – Safety & Rule of Law and Participation & Human Rights,” it adds.

Nigeria, West Africa’s powerhouse, the Index notes, has for the first time this year fallen into the bottom ten governance performers on the continent.

Stating the mixed fortune of countries on the continent, it says over the last six years, Tanzania has climbed up the IIAG’s rankings, making it into the top ten for the first time.

“Angola, Liberia and Togo have left the IIAG’s group of the ten worst performers. They have been replaced by Eritrea, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria,” the Index says.

Meanwhile, for the third time the Foundation did not have a winner for the $5 million prize for Good Governance.

“The Prize Committee reviewed a number of candidates but none met all of the criteria needed to win the Prize,” Mr Salim Ahmed Salim, a member of the Prize Committee announced at a press conference today October 15, 2012 in London.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi