Accra, Aug. 23, GNA - Ghana has been ranked 131 under the Human Development Index, which measures achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income.

This is contained in this year's Human Development Report, which ranks 177 countries according to their levels of human development.

Norway is ranked as number one in terms of the various indices in the Report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Sweden takes the number two slot while the United States is ranked eighth. Four West African countries take the last four positions. Mali is placed at 174, Burkina Faso 175, Niger 176 and Sierra Leone takes the last position of 177.

The theme for this year's Human Development Report is: "Cultural Liberty in Today's Diverse World." The Report is to be launched by Vice President Aliu Mahama on August 26 in Accra.

At a press briefing in Accra on Monday ahead of the launch, Dr Kamil Kamaluddeen, Economic Advisor at UNDP Accra Office, said the choice of this year's theme was to draw attention to the link between culture and development.

UNDP said cultural liberty was a human right issue and an important aspect of human development worthy of state action and attention.

"Cultural liberty is about allowing people the freedom to choose their identities and to lead the lives they value...expanding cultural freedoms is an important goal in human development - one that needs urgent attention in the 21st century," it said.