Ghana has been ranked 101st out of 138 countries in the Global Knowledge Index for the year 2020, 12th out of the 24 countries with medium human development, according to a report from the United Nations Development Planning (UNDP).
The 4th edition of the Global Knowledge Index is published in an era where knowledge increasingly presents itself as a legitimate source of development and prosperity, as the world strives to accelerate the pace of advancements and to set ambitious yet calculated plans for a better future. The index comes in the midst of a health crisis that has put the entire world on high alert, bringing nations together to work on the common goal of mitigating the effects of the pandemic.
In the GKI report, Ghana has been described as a modest performer in terms of its knowledge infrastructure. On sectoral indices, Ghana has been ranked 97th with a score value of 52.2 for general enabling environment. Ghana scored lowest value of 14.4 for Research Development and Innovation and has been ranked 111th. With regard to Pre – University Education, it was ranked 109th with a score value of 48.6 whilst it placed 87th in Technical and Vocational Education and Training with a score value of 46.8. Ghana was ranked 116th in Economy but did better in Information, Communications and Technology, placing 88th.
In Africa, Seychelles was the highest ranked country being placed 50th globally and 47th out of the 56 countries with very high human development. Seychelles scored a lowest value of 18.1 for Research Development and Innovation and a highest score value of 67.6 for Pre-University Education. From the report, Switzerland has been ranked 1st, followed by the United States of America and Finland placing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Switzerland has been described as a leading performer in terms of its knowledge infrastructure and ranks 1st out of the 56 countries with very high human development.
United States of America, however scored the highest value of 92.3 for Technical and Vocational Education and Training ranking first under this sector. It has been ranked 2nd out of the 56 countries with very high human development whilst ranking first under Information & Communications Technology with a score of 86.5.
The Global Knowledge Index (GKI), produced annually since 2017, is a summary measure for tracking the knowledge performance of countries at the level of seven areas, namely pre-university education, technical and vocational education and training, higher education, research, development and innovation, information and communications technology, economy and the general enabling environment. It aims to measure the multifaceted concept of knowledge. Covering 138 countries and 199 indicators this year’s GKI is an instrument to guide policymakers, researchers, civil society, and the private sector as they nurture knowledge-based societies and bridge knowledge gaps.
