The Industrial Relations Act demands arbitration before strikes are authorized. The only labor confederation, the Trade Union Congress, is still aligned with the ruling party, although it is has shown signs of autonomy. Ghana s ambitious privatization program has continued to draw foreign investment into a stock exchange that in 1998 defied global drops in share values. Gold mining profits and increased cocoa exports have contributed to growth. But Ashanti s financial troubles and a decline in world cocoa prices over the last two years by about 40 percent have substantially hurt the economy.
Corruption is reportedly on the rise as the country falls deeper into debt.