Anyone know anything ABOUT GHANA?????!!!?

Question

I am meant to be using the internet to help me with an essay titled:

Although Ghana is rich in resources, the country continues to struggle to achieve development. Why do you think this is the case?

It is quite a difficult essay but I have an idea that it may be partially caused by richer countries (MEDCs).

Any points regarding this topic are brilliant!!!

Answer 1

THE 'WEST' IS THE REASON WHY THE THIRD WORLD IS PRIMARILY IN THE STATE IT IS IN .........and today the west consistently manoeuvres so as to maintain the Third world in its position of under development. For example the policies of the IMF and the World Bank you should investigate closer to see what I mean - You should note the aid that is given is in many instances, is but a drop in the ocean, in comparison with the LOAN repayments many of the Third world countries make back in like to the West, and the interest paid.

Despite aid doing some good on a micro / local level - The west essentially receives more benefit from the Third world - unfair trade / cheap labour etc etc. The West has also carved up many a country in colonial times and raped and pillaged resources and established governing systems that were inappropriate for the countries themselves, but rather of benefit again to the West - Today we in the West still reap a great deal from the assets stripped at these times.

In the case of Ghana - despite this country being particularly rich in resources, during colonial times much land was used to grow peanuts, palm oil, cocoa, etc and exported ... much of this 'system' still continues today rather than food being grown to feed its population a slightly higher price is gained for goods that can be exported to the west / thus farmers tend to concentrate on these kind of crops - however the most profitable part of the process is concluded in the west ie. turning the raw product into goods on the shelf which is where the 'value' is added  - in the case of cocoa e.g being turned into - chocolate bars / chocolate drinks /  powder /sweeteners etc.  the markup from raw product to manufactured goods is astronomical in real terms.    

Its ironic that many Third world countries end up 'buying back' the goods in the manufactured state, in this economy of globalisation meaning its difficult for them to progress out of poverty as populations always want items that are deemed modern, as we are influenced by mass media.