The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana

The objective in this paper is to estimate the economic costs of COVID-19 policies and external shocks in a developing country context, with a focus on agri-food system impacts. Ghana is selected as a case study. Ghana recorded its first two cases of COVID-19 infection on 12 March 2020. The governme...

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Main Authors: Amewu, Sena, Asante, Seth, Pauw, Karl, Thurlow, James
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143352
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author Amewu, Sena
Asante, Seth
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
author_browse Amewu, Sena
Asante, Seth
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
author_facet Amewu, Sena
Asante, Seth
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
author_sort Amewu, Sena
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The objective in this paper is to estimate the economic costs of COVID-19 policies and external shocks in a developing country context, with a focus on agri-food system impacts. Ghana is selected as a case study. Ghana recorded its first two cases of COVID-19 infection on 12 March 2020. The government responded by gradually introducing social distancing measures, travel restrictions, border closures, and eventually a partial, two-week “partial” lockdown in the country’s largest metropolitan areas of Accra and Kumasi. Social distancing measures have been enforced nationwide and include bans on conferences, workshops, and sporting and religious events, as well as the closure of bars and nightclubs. All educational institutions are also closed. The partial lockdown measures in urban areas directed all residents to remain home except for essential business, prohibited non-essential inter-city travel and transport, and only essential manufacturing and services operations were permitted to continue (The Presidency 2020). At the time the lockdown was announced, Ghana’s Ministry of Finance revised its GDP growth estimate for 2020 downwards from 6.8 to 1.5 percent (MoF 2020), although the Minister warned that growth could fall further if lockdown measures were extended. The lockdown was initially extended for a third week but was officially lifted on 20 April. Social distancing measures remain in place nationwide, although a gradual easing of restrictions commenced in June. Ghana’s borders remain closed at the time of writing.
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spelling CGSpace1433522025-11-06T06:07:43Z The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana Amewu, Sena Asante, Seth Pauw, Karl Thurlow, James models movement restrictions economic analysis economic impact non-pharmaceutical interventions policies covid-19 isolation recuperation disease prevention agrifood systems physical distancing pandemics The objective in this paper is to estimate the economic costs of COVID-19 policies and external shocks in a developing country context, with a focus on agri-food system impacts. Ghana is selected as a case study. Ghana recorded its first two cases of COVID-19 infection on 12 March 2020. The government responded by gradually introducing social distancing measures, travel restrictions, border closures, and eventually a partial, two-week “partial” lockdown in the country’s largest metropolitan areas of Accra and Kumasi. Social distancing measures have been enforced nationwide and include bans on conferences, workshops, and sporting and religious events, as well as the closure of bars and nightclubs. All educational institutions are also closed. The partial lockdown measures in urban areas directed all residents to remain home except for essential business, prohibited non-essential inter-city travel and transport, and only essential manufacturing and services operations were permitted to continue (The Presidency 2020). At the time the lockdown was announced, Ghana’s Ministry of Finance revised its GDP growth estimate for 2020 downwards from 6.8 to 1.5 percent (MoF 2020), although the Minister warned that growth could fall further if lockdown measures were extended. The lockdown was initially extended for a third week but was officially lifted on 20 April. Social distancing measures remain in place nationwide, although a gradual easing of restrictions commenced in June. Ghana’s borders remain closed at the time of writing. 2020-04-01 2024-05-22T12:13:34Z 2024-05-22T12:13:34Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143352 en https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133778 https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133846 https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.af2s.2020.09.002 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Amewu, Sena; Asante, Seth; Pauw, Karl; and Thurlow, James. 2020. The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana. GSSP Working Paper 52. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.133760.
spellingShingle models
movement restrictions
economic analysis
economic impact
non-pharmaceutical interventions
policies
covid-19
isolation
recuperation
disease prevention
agrifood systems
physical distancing
pandemics
Amewu, Sena
Asante, Seth
Pauw, Karl
Thurlow, James
The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana
title The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana
title_full The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana
title_fullStr The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana
title_full_unstemmed The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana
title_short The economic costs of COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from a simulation exercise for Ghana
title_sort economic costs of covid 19 in sub saharan africa insights from a simulation exercise for ghana
topic models
movement restrictions
economic analysis
economic impact
non-pharmaceutical interventions
policies
covid-19
isolation
recuperation
disease prevention
agrifood systems
physical distancing
pandemics
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143352
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