Gyimah-Boadi argues that Ghana's democratic reforms and poverty reduction go hand in hand. Its democracy also may have helped put a brake on corruption: Successive incoming governments have been quick to expose the misdemeanors of the previous regime. Critics, however, say these prosecutions are often political, and that a culture of transparency hasn't really taken root.
There are other flaws. Ghana ranks No. 135 among 177 countries on the United Nations human development index, a comprehensive measurement of quality of life. Analysts say the collapse of remittances and exports because of the global economic crunch could reverse the country's progress.
Some analysts fear that revenue from Ghana's oil reserves could spawn the kind of corrupt elite seen in neighboring countries, potentially squandering years of democratic gains. They argue that the true test of Ghana's democracy lies ahead.
The global crunch has already hit Ghana's job creation plan. More than 300,000 jobs were created in the last three years, according to the government.
Accra, the capital, is full of people such as Abu Ayoma, 42, a father of three. He came to the city a decade ago looking for work and ended up as a laborer, carrying heavy loads. Three years ago, he began work for Zoomlion, a private waste management firm contracted by the government.
As part of the National Youth Employment Program, Zoomlion hires and trains jobless people. The government pays the workers allowances.
"It's better than going to steal," Abu Ayoma said, pausing as he shoveled dirt into a dumpster at a busy market. "I don't have any alternative to live on."
Accra's canals are green and grassy, with neat "Do Not Litter" signs posted by Zoomlion.
"People respect us. They always congratulate us on what we are doing. We clean up Ghana, so it's good for the people," Abu Ayoma said.
The National Youth Employment Program also trains unemployed people to patrol neighborhoods at night, direct traffic, or work as community nurses or teachers. They may also serve in the military, customs or in prisons.
"These programs do a tremendous amount in terms of poverty reduction. You have young people meaningfully engaged in work, young people who were doing nothing," said Seibik Bugri, a spokesman for the program.
These days, though the jobs program is in arrears, with payments running six weeks late.
