About seven million Ghanaians are desperately poor, despite strides made in achieving the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), according to Professor Kodwo Ewusi, Rector of the West End University College.

He said about nine million Ghanaians did not have access to potable water, coupled with poor nutrition and low adult literacy rate.

Speaking at an inaugural lecture in Accra, organized by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Ewusi quoted from the United Nations Development Programme poverty index, saying Ghana was ranked 89 out of 135 countries with an index of 28. 1 per cent poverty ratio.

“Ghana’s 28. 1 per cent poverty ratio implies that seven million Ghanaians are desperately poor,” Prof. Ewusi explained. He said although Ghana was relatively doing well in achieving the MDGs, policy makers should not be lured into complacency.

“Achieving the MDGs per se is not enough,” he noted, adding that the government had to do more to achieve zero poverty rates in Ghana by the next decade.

He said with the striking of oil in commercial quantities, there was hope for the country to reverse her poverty incidence.

“The production of oil has propelled the growth of the economy into double digits, with expected growth rate of 17. 5 per cent. The average growth for 2012 to 2015 will exceed 10 per cent and will catapult Ghana to a per capital income of $4800 in 2015,” Prof. Ewusi added