National Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production for Ghana (2011‐2016): Volume 1 – Final Report

In every society, there is the need to manage production and consumption and investment patterns in relation to environmental, economic and social elements of sustainability. The way we consume and produce affect natural resources. Footprint and Human Well Being (2007) a report on African’s Ecological Footprint shows that the impact of the average African to be low by western standards. The report also reveals that a growing number of African countries are now depleting their natural resources or will shortly be going faster than they can be replaced. Currently Ghana’s footprint is at 1.0 out of a total biocapacity of 1.3gha/person. Ghana’s footprint change per person was 36 percent. The human index in 2003 was 0.53 with a change in the human development index (HDI) of 18percent between 1975‐2003. The stress on blue water resources is 1 percent. The situation is made worse in many regions of the world. In 1998 the average African household consumed 20 percent less than 25years before.