Population growth: Silent obstacle to development (1)
By Dr Kofi AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO
THERE is a direct link between population growth and the level of development in a country and that if population grows at a faster rate than development, standard of living will fall and the welfare of the people will not be as beautifully enticing as expected.
All over the world, it has been observed that general population growth in developing countries including Africa tend to over ran the rate of economic development for which reason many of this countries keep showing signs poverty, deprivation, squalor and general economic satisfaction, among others.
If things are to be changed for the better, then this problems which serves as an obstacle to development ought to be addressed without any further delay. Anything short of this will continue to see developing countries wallowing in poverty.
The issue of population control is very important here because resources available are not unlimited. Sinc our resources, no matter how plentiful they may appear, are limited we need to make a conscious effort as a nation to ensure that economic growth and development out run the rate of population growth so that people in this country can be made to enjoy better life.
This is a problem that is often overlooked by many people in this country. There are many people who think that it is God who gives us children so no matter what happens, the same God wil help us to cater for the children. It is true that God caters everyone in this world but as a people we need to make concious effort to bring forth a small number of children that we can adequately cater for.
If this is done, our family members will enjoy better economic life. In the same way , our communities and regions will all begin to enjoy better economy life. At the end of it all, this positive development will impact on Tehran entire country and Ghana as a country will be the winner.
The current population of Ghana is 34 million as of Saturday, December 16, 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data 1.
Ghana 2023 population is estimated at 34 million people at mid year.
The population figure of Ghana which has been estimated to be 34 million is too high looking at the socioeconomic development we need to Pursue in this country.
When it comes to the high demands for schools from the basic level to that of the Tertiary, they never seen to be adequate because of the rapid expansion in population growth. The introduction of the Free SHS System alongside Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has come to help this country in the sense that, it has made it possible for both the poor and rich to have access to education.
The high demand for medical care and food to hep the people are being addressed by this government but yet still we are facing some challenges also because of high population growth.
If Ghana’s population was at 5 million at the time independence in 1957, the current 34 million is too high a figure to be cared for. It means that m, from 1957 to 2024, the population growth in this country has increased about seven fold.
Ghana population is equivalent to 0.42% of the total world population.
The country ranks number 47 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
The population. density in Ghana is 150 per Km2.
The total land area is 227,540 Km2.
About 56.7 % of the population is urban (19,350,121 people in 2023)The median age in Ghana is 20.7 years.
The point being made is that when population growth outstrips economic development, the standard of living will fall and this will not auger well for the country or Ghanaians as a whole. The government of president Akuffo Addo with strong support from Dr. Bawumia is doing all it can to save the situation but as a people, we also need to play our part by ensuring that we give birth to a small number of children that we can adequately cater for.
