Microfinance against the Resource Curse? Lessons for Ghana to learn from Botswana

Linking the resource curse phenomenon with financial inclusion, this study argues that targeted public policies and microfinance can help emerging economies avoid the pitfalls of resource wealth. It emphasizes a bottom-up strategy that empowers marginalized communities to engage in finance, contrasting with traditional top-down approaches. Using Botswana as a case study, the work analyzes its successful management of resource abundance and draws recommendations for Ghana, which is beginning to exploit petroleum, highlighting the role of financial inclusion in its development strategy.