SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT growth rate of 8-10% in per capita income, and an annual population growth rate of about 1.5%. Nevertheless, there has been a modest increase in economic performance, with economic growth hovering around 4-5% per annum since the 1990s, compared with the negative growth rates in the 1980s. The country has also mobilised more resources from internal sources during the same period. 37. A more sombre picture emerges, however, when it is realised that the economic growth that has been achieved masks regional disparities and rural/urban imbalances in respect of its distribution. It also falls far short of the 8% predicted in Ghana's Vision 2020, and of what the GPRS envisaged as necessary for lifting the country from the poverty trap. Given the vulnerability of the country's economy to external shocks and high donor dependence, the picture becomes even more worrisome. Those sub-sectors that would greatly benefit the poor (food crops and livestock, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail trade) have fared badly. 38. Although Vision 2020 and the GPRS are the most recent policy documents for achieving accelerated socio-economic development, monitoring of the progress made has faced considerable challenges. In the preparation of annual progress reports, the main problem has been lack of up-to-date data, as well as inconsistent data from different sources. 39. Survey results from the northern parts of the country and the Volta Region suggest that poverty is still acutely prevalent in the country and has worsened over the years. There are legitimate concerns among the populace that political affiliation determines access to funds meant for poverty affiliation. Several respondents feel that some of the HIPC and DACF funds should have gone to income-generating activities instead of infrastructure development projects. The view has also been expressed that the District Assemblies are unable to generate adequate funds from market tolls, property rates and other levies to finance development programmes. 40. Ghana has made remarkable progress in achieving the MDGs, but some challenges remain, including a high fertility rate (4.5) and infant mortality rate (56.5/1000, 2001 estimate). Life expectancy has still not reached 60 years of age, currently being 59 years for women and 56 years for men. Only 64.5% of the population is literate, with a significantly higher percentage of men (70%) than women (51%) being able to read and write. 125