Ghana

Social services

Commentary

IFC helping Western multinationals exploit Ghana's water crisis

The water supply crisis in Ghana is being exploited by all manner of pro-market corporate bodies ranging from the World Bank to Coca-Cola. While the World Bank is licking its wounds from failed private water management initiatives, such as the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited management contract in Ghana, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), its private sector arm, is investing in small-scale private water ventures via WaterHeath International (WHI).

13 September 2011 | Guest comment

Social services

News

World Bank health insurance not delivering in Ghana

In a forthcoming paper, NGO Oxfam will criticise the national health insurance scheme in Ghana, which has received technical assistance from the World Bank, for failing to deliver equitable health care.

12 April 2010

Rights

News

Inspection Panel raps World Bank in Ghana

A complaint to the World Bank Inspection Panel by the NGO, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), on behalf of the Agyemankata community has resulted in a report confirming violations of Bank policies on forced evictions and environmental hazards related to a planned landfill near Accra, Ghana.

10 July 2009

Environment

Commentary

Ghana's off-shore nightmare

The IFC ignored due process requirements mandated by the laws of Ghana in the case of the Jubilee oil field project and should not have considered the loan applications at the board. In so dong the IFC is encouraging the infringement of the basic rules of governance and transparency.

17 April 2009 | Guest comment

Accountability

News

Ghanaians calls for expulsion of Bank rep

In January, Ghana Web, a daily news and resource site, issued a sharp attack on the World Bank and its country representative in Ghana demanding that the president expel the World Bank country director in Ghana from his post.

16 February 2009

Rights

News

Panel investigates Ghana's landfill complaint

In October the board accepted the Inspection Panel's recommendation for a full investigation into a complaint filed by the NGO Centre for Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE)

1 February 2008

Accountability

News

Ghana Inspection Panel request

COHRE has filed a complaint to the Inspection Panel.

5 October 2007

Infrastructure

News

WAGP: delays, investigation

The construction of the controversial West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) has been delayed by instability in the Niger delta.

2 July 2007

Rights

News

The IFC at fifty: All that glitters is too much gold

As the International Finance Corporation (IFC) marks its golden anniversary, the institution claims to serve "as a catalyst for innovative, market-based solutions for reducing poverty and addressing environmental and social challenges". The reality fails to justify such a glittering perspective. Problem gold mine projects in Ghana, Peru and Kyrgyzstan and serious weaknesses in its recent human rights impact assessment programme undermine the future credibility of an institution that is increasin

11 September 2006

Accountability

News

Request for inspection of West Africa gas pipeline

In April, the Ifesowapo Host Communities Forum in Nigeria requested the Inspection Panel investigate the West African Gas Pipeline project.

19 June 2006

Rights

News

IFC backs controversial Ghana gold mine

On 31 January, the IFC approved a $125 million loan to Newmont Mining Corporation for the development of the Ahafo gold mine project in western Ghana, which NGOs link to human rights and environmental problems.

8 April 2006

Land

News

Setbacks to privatisations across Africa

The collapse of a flagship water privatisation in Tanzania, and opposition to both a planned privatisation of the state cotton board and the completed privatisation of the state railway in Mali, highlight the continuing struggle over pressure from the Bretton Woods institutions to privatise in Africa.

13 June 2005