Agriculture occupies most of the working population, producing both subsistence and cash crops.
The most important of the latter is cocoa, of which Ghana is one of the world's major producers. The economy has suffered badly in the last decade, during much of which the world market price for cocoa has been unusually low. Fishing has also grown in importance since the traditional canoe method has been supplemented by a modern fleet. The country's energy needs are met by hydroelectric projects, which produce a surplus which Ghana sells to its neighbours. Oil and gas exploration have been given a high priority by the government, but as yet no commercially exploitable quantities have been discovered.