Factors Affecting 
                                           Economic Growth 
                                           in Ghana: 
                          
                                           Bases for a New USAID 
                                           Approach to Economic 
                                           Growth 
                          
                                           Sibley International 
                                           October 2008 
                          
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                                                   
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                Factors Affecting Economic Growth in Ghana: 
                                                                
            Bases for a New USAID Approach to Economic Growth
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                           Prepared for USAID/Ghana 
                                      by 
                                Tom Easterling 
                                James W. Fox 
                                Fenton B. Sands 
                                    under 
                          Contract EEM-I-02-07-00003-02 
                                   issued to 
                                      
                             Sibley International            October 2008 
                                           ACRONYMS 
                                         
               Acronym                  Meaning 
                 BDS        Business Development Services 
                 CEPS       Ghana Customs Bureau  
                 CTO        Cognizant Technical Officer  
                 DCA        Development Credit Authority 
                 DFID       Department for International Development, U.K.  
                 EBD        Export Business Development  
                  EE        Enabling Environment 
                EMQAP       Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project  
                  EU        European Union 
                FASDEP      Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy  
                 FIAS       Foreign Investment Assistance Service of IFC/World Bank 
                FINSSP      Financial Sector Strategic Plan 
                 GAP        Good Agricultural Practices 
                GAVEX       Ghana Association of Vegetable Exporters 
                 GDP        Gross Domestic Product 
                 GEPC       Ghana Export Promotion Council  
                 GIPC       Ghana Investment Promotion Council  
                  GIS       Global Information System 
                GISPA       Ghana Internet Service Providers Association  
                 GOG        Government of Ghana 
                 GPRS       Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy 
                 GSB        Ghana Standards Board 
                 GTZ        Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit – German 
                            Development Agency 
                HACCP       Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point 
                 HEII       Horticulture Exports Industry Initiative  
                 IEHA       Initiative to End Hunger in Africa 
                  IFC       International Finance Corporation 
                  ICT       Information, Communications and Technology  
                 IFAD       International Fund for Agricultural Development  
                      IFC         International Finance Corporation  
                     M&E          Monitoring and Evaluation  
                     MCC          Millennium Challenge Compact 
                    MiDA          Millennium Development Agency  
                    MSMEs         Micro- Small, and Medium Enterprises  
                    MOFA          Ministry of Food and Agriculture  
                    MOFEP         Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning         
                     MOU          Memorandum of Understanding 
                     NGO          Non-Governmental Organization 
                     NPA          Non-project Assistance (budget support in USAID argot) 
                     NLC          National Labor Commission  
                    NRGP          Northern Region Growth Program  
                     PMP          project management plan  
                     PSDS         Private Sector Development Strategy 
                    RAFiP         Rural and Agricultural Finance Program  
                     RCB          Rural/ Community Bank 
                     RFSP         Rural Financial Services Project  
                     SPS          Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
                     TFP          Total Factor Productivity 
                      TIP         USAID Trade and Investment Program 
                     TIRP         USAID  Trade and Investment Reform Program  
                   TIPCEE         Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy  
                     TSSP         Trade Sector Support Program 
                      UN          United Nations 
                    UNDP          United Nations Development Program. 
                    USAID         United States Agency for International Development 
                     VAT          Value-added tax 
                     WBI          World Bank Institute  
                     WTO          World Trade Organization