Ghana’s Northern Region accounts for almost one-third of the country’s land area yet is only inhabited by about 10 percent of its total population. The majority of people live in rural villages where the main source of employment is farming and poverty is endemic. Around 70% of the population are considered to live in poverty. Whilst Ghana’s overall poverty levels have fallen over the past decade, poverty in the northern region has increased. Common problems facing most rural communities include a lack of access to water, education, health services and employment opportunities.
The major source of employment in the northern region is farming, with more than 70% of the economically active population employed in agriculture. Most are small scale producers who prepare land manually, obtaining low yields. Farming is confined mainly to the rainy season and food shortages during the dry season are common.
National statistics indicate that the literacy rate among adults living in rural areas of the Northern Region is lower than 7 percent. Approximately 40 percent of school-age children are out of school, the majority being girls. Most children do not complete the compulsory nine years of primary schooling and, consequently, do not attain a basic literacy level.
People in the northern region have significantly poorer access to medical facilities, with only 18% living within 60 minutes of a formal health clinic. The consequences of this are evident in increased infant and child mortality rates, an increased stunted growth rate and decreased life expectancy in the northern region compared to national statistics. Despite this, the northern region is said to be the youngest region in Ghana, with a median age of just 17. This indicates a high level of fertility and low usage of contraception, which would suggest a greater prevalence of HIV/AIDs, although accurate figures are difficult to obtain.
