92.3 Overall Score (up 17.5 since Aug 1st.)

Ghana

  • 79.9 Public Health
    Directives
  • 53.4 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication
  • 79.9 Public Health
    Directives
  • 53.4 Financial
    Response
  • 100 Fact-Based
    Communication

Ghana scores strongly on the Index, due primarily to its proactive public health policy, strong examples set by leadership, and reliance on facts; while consistently strong, it does have very weak testing, limited emergency healthcare spending, and a weak stimulus.

Pre-COVID Conditions

Ghana’s poor population health, weak healthcare system, low number of hospital beds, and low GDP per capita resulted in it being in a relatively vulnerable position pre-pandemic.

  • Debt/GDP ratio 59.3%
  • GDP/capita $7,343
  • Gini coefficient (out of 100) 43.5
  • Infant mortality rate (out of 1,000 live births) 35
  • Healthcare access score (out of 100) 49.7
  • Hospital beds/1,000 People 5.8

Government Response

Select a data point for more information
(Data points represent policy level as of Oct 1.)
79.9

Public Health Directives

Ghana's strong testing policy, contact tracing, and restrictions of public gatherings earned a strong score.

  • Stay at home order 0
  • Public gathering restrictions 3
  • School closings 2
  • Public event cancellations 2
  • Testing policy 3
  • Emergency healthcare investments/capita $3.22
  • Travel restrictions 1
  • Tests/1,000 people 15.4
  • Contact tracing 2
53.4

Financial Response

Ghana’s financial stimulus is one of the smallest in the Index, and its government offers no income support to workers, but a comparatively low case rate despite these limitations brings its score to the median.

  • Financial stimulus as share of GDP 2.6%
  • Income support 0
  • Debt forebearance 0
100

Fact-Based Communication

Ghana’s leadership has not engaged in the spread of misinformation or conspiracy theories in its communications, but it has emphasized prevention measures and basic hygiene practices.

  • Reliance on science/fact based information 0
  • Press freedom 0

COVID-19 Status as of Oct 1

Having managed an uptick in cases after easing restrictions, Ghana's case rate has fallen back down to among the lowest levels in the Index.

  • Total deaths 301
  • Death rate per 100K 9.7
  • Total cases 46,656
  • Cases per 100K 1,502
  • Percent of positive tests 3.7
  • Change in positivity rates -15
Case Trend Line
Daily cases Level 2 Lockdown
Date Status New Cases/1M
1 Jun 05 Religious services with fewer than 100 people are allowed 7.27
2 Jun 15 Schools and universities reopen 10.69
3 Sep 01 International flights resume, with Covid-19 protocols in place 3.11

Differentiating Factors

  • Reopening international passenger flights: Restrictions extended for 3 months as Ghana remains the second most impacted country in Africa and 7th in cumulative cases; Airports have reopened (9/1) for international passengers. Read More
  • Testing capacity among highest in Africa: Ghana's stepwise lockdown, widespread testing and tracing, and adaptation of health facilities with incentives and supports for healthcare workers have managed spread. Read More
  • Officials model healthy behavior: Ghana's leadership has focused on setting a good example to the public. Both President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Health Minister announced in early July that they would self-isolate following a close contact testing positive for coronavirus, and Deputy Trade and Interior Minister Carlos Kinglsey Ahenkorah was forced to resign after violating self-isolation protocols. Read More
  • Major expansion in healthcare capacity: In mid-May it was announced that 90 new hospitals would be built as part of an overhaul of the healthcare system, which has struggled to cope with COVID-19. Read More
  • Leaders fighting insurgents amid COVID-19: Ghana's relatively low case incidence and death rate is particularly impressive considering that the government has had to focus much of its attention on counter-terrorism against JNIM and ISGS, both of whom are pushing westward. Read More
Compared with Other African Countries
  • 82.8
    Senegal 14,982
    Cases     895
    Per 1M     311
    Deaths

    Senegal’s COVID-19 policy response has been very strong across the board, buoyed by strong public health directives and a reliance on science and facts.

  • 93.6
    Kenya 38,529
    Cases     717
    Per 1M     711
    Deaths

    Kenya has a strong overall policy score, although down significantly from January. However, it is consistently scoring well in all areas, particularly its reliance with respect to facts and science on COVID-19.

  • 87.7
    Ethiopia 75,368
    Cases     656
    Per 1M     1,198
    Deaths

    Despite having relatively weak pre-pandemic capacity, swift action and prevention-based messaging from the government helped mitigate spread early on in the crisis.

  • 69
    South Africa 674,339
    Cases     11,370
    Per 1M     16,734
    Deaths

    Overall, South Africa's score is relatively strong with vigorous policy implementation—particularly with respect to lockdowns—offset by its relatively meager financial response.

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New Zealand

Statistics and government response factors available on each country profile include:

Pre-COVID Conditions:

  • Debt to GDP ratio
  • Infant mortality rates
  • Hospital beds per 1,000 people
  • Gini coefficients measuring inequality
  • Health access and quality

COVID-19 Public Health Directives:

  • Stay-at home orders
  • School-closing policy
  • Public-gathering restrictions
  • Cancellation of public events
  • Testing policy and rates per 1,000 people
  • Emergency healthcare spending per capita
  • Travel restrictions
  • Contact tracing

COVID-19 Financial Response:

  • Stimulus package as a share of GDP
  • Income support
  • Debt-forbearance

Public Communications:

  • Instances of misinformation by leadership
  • Limitations on press freedom, censorship

Current/Historic In-Country COVID-19 Status:

  • Death rates per 1 million
  • Case rates per 1 million