Social infrastructure

Education and Culture

The Region has the highest standard and quality of education in the country and its literacy rate of 76% is much higher than the 59% National Average.  The Region boasts of 4 Universities, 4 Professional Training Institutions, a Polytechnic, 3 Technical Training Institutes and 2 Teacher Training Colleges in addition to its numerous Second Cycle Schools and hundreds of Basic Schools as well as some institutions for the physical challenged.

As part of the Education Reforms, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on rehabilitation of existing school infrastructure and the construction of a new one in Basic, Second Cycle and Tertiary Institutions. 

The Region houses the National Theatre and has a Centre for Culture as well as a National Youth Culture Centre in Accra where performances of cultures and art regularly take place.  Other cultural performances etc. occur at the British Council, Alliance Francaise and other Centres.    

Health

There is in the Greater Accra Region, an extensive and expansive health delivery system spanning preventive, curative, maternal and Child Care services as well as psychiatric care, with several Health Institutions including Korle Bu Teaching Hospital , 37 Military Hospital, Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital, University of Ghana Hospital and numerous Polyclinics and District Hospitals and Private Clinics.

There are also in the Region 5 Communicable Diseases Centres and 5 health Training Institutions.

The Region therefore, enjoys a reasonably higher quality of health delivery system than the rest of the country.  However, despite a relatively acceptable Patient-Doctor ratio and Patient-Bed ratio in the Region, the health facilities are over taxed and good sanitation practices especially in the informal sectors of the urban areas, is a problem because of the rate of urbanization in the Region.  Not surprisingly, the prevalent diseases in the Region are malaria, upper respiratory tract infections, skin diseases and diarrhea.

A major tenet of the Region’s health programme is a vigorous pursuit of the Primary Health Care progrmme, whose main goal is to achieve an optional physical, mental and social well being of the general population, since it has been estimated that about 80% of illnesses could be prevented by a combination of improved nutrition, adequate clean water supplies, education on personal hygiene, family planning and immunization especially against the childhood killer diseases.

In this regard the Region’s Expanded Programme on Immunization is being vigorously pursued.  Serious efforts are also being made to control diseases like Tuberculosis and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

There is a successful Guinea Worm Eradication Programme going on in the Region, and the Reports indicate that no new indigenous cases are been detected. 

The various Districts in the Region have embarked on community-based Health Insurance Schemes in line with the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme in order to ensure reasonable access to health care for even the needy in the society.

The Region is also promoting a major nutritional programme involving the following:

Social Welfare & Community Development

The rapid growth of the two major urban industrialized settlements of Accra and Tema has its concomitant social problems resulting in very high numbers of social and mental destitute.  In order to cope with this situation there are located in the Regions, at Madina and Osu, national institutes for the training of social workers whose activities are geared towards rehabilitation of the affected members of the population.

The Region also has many Non-governmental voluntary associations aimed at the same goals.

Housing

Despite the apparent tremendous increase in the rate of housing development in the Region, the net effect on the ever increasing population is quite negligible due to the high costs of accommodation.  This has resulted in major social, health and sanitation problems.

Tourism
The Greater Accra Region has a great potential for tourism development.  By virtue of its unique position as Capital Region, it is virtually the gateway to the country and for the majority of tourists, the Region the first point of call.

Among the tourism potentials of the Region are the numerous safe sandy beaches stretching from Borteanor to Ada, scenic landscape, historic forts and castles, wide range of cultural attractions, conferences and business activities.  Most of the best hotels of international statues are situated in Greater Accra.  In addition to facilities, services of Travel and Tour Agencies and well-trained tour guards are readily accessible.

The beautiful indigenous festivals of the Region namely Asafotufiami celebrated in the Ada Traditional Area, Ngmayem in Shai Traditional Area, Dzehaye in Osudoku Traditional Area, Ahoba in Papase Traditional Area, Kpledzoo in Tema and Nungua Traditional Areas and the most widely celebrated Homowo by the Gas are tourists attractions of various forms, both entertainment and education.

Some important sites and areas of attractions include the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Centre Research Library, Accra International Conference Centre, the Markets of Accra, Shai Resource Reserve and Waterports areas of Ada.

The Region accounts for 80% of the total tourism receipts in the country and earns million of US Dollars annually from tourism.