Mining, information and communication lead 4.7% economy expansion in first quarter
Ghana’s economy expanded by 4.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting a robust start to the year fueled by key sectors such as mining and information technology, according to data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The GDP growth marks a notable improvement from the 1.2 percent growth recorded in the final quarter of 2023.
Key Growth Sectors
The mining and quarrying sector led the surge, posting an impressive 12.9 percent increase. This growth underscores the sector’s pivotal role in Ghana’s economy, driven by strong performance in gold and other mineral exports.
The information and communication sector also saw substantial expansion, growing by 17.9 percent. This remarkable rise highlights the ongoing digital transformation and increased investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
Agriculture, particularly the crops sub-sector, maintained steady growth at 4.3 percent, reflecting continued stability in agricultural production. Meanwhile, the construction sector grew by 8.2 percent, supported by significant infrastructure projects and investment.
The accommodation and food service activities sector registered a 9.4 percent growth, indicating a robust recovery in tourism and related industries following the COVID-19 pandemic
Declining Sectors
Despite the overall positive performance, several sectors experienced contractions in Q1 2024. Health and social work saw the most significant decline, shrinking by 8.8 percent. This downturn may be attributed to budget cuts and operational challenges within the healthcare system.
The electricity sector contracted by 7.5 percent, potentially reflecting issues in energy production and distribution. Public administration, defense, and social security also faced a decline, down 5.3 percent, which could be indicative of fiscal tightening or policy shifts.
The education sector recorded a 4.9 percent decrease, possibly due to enrollment changes and funding adjustments. Other personal service activities dropped by 2.9 percent, and forestry and logging experienced a slight contraction of 1.2 percent, possibly due to sustainability measures and reduced logging activities.
Economic Outlook
The diverse performance across different sectors suggests that while Ghana’s economy is on a positive trajectory, there are significant areas of concern that require strategic attention. The strong growth in mining, digital infrastructure, and construction points to robust sectoral drivers that could sustain the economic momentum if supported by effective policies and investment.
The GSS data paints a mixed but optimistic picture, highlighting the need for balanced growth strategies to ensure that the benefits of economic expansion are broadly shared across all sectors.
