This paper examines the relationship between structural assimilation and ethnic fertility differences in Ghana to determine the relative importance of socioeconomic and ethnic\cultural factors on possible convergence in reproduction among four and a residual ethnic groups: the Twi, the Fante/Other Akans, the Ewe, Ga-Adangbe and Northern groups (residual group). The relative significance of socioeconomic and cultural/ethnic factors in shaping subgroups fertility has been probed extensively with data from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand (Chui and Trovato, 1990; Trovato, 1980, 1981; Johnson, 1979; Jiobu and Marshall, 1977; Beaujot, 1975; Kennedy, 1973; Sly, 1970; Goldscheider and Uhlenberg, 1969; Day, 1968).
With few exceptions, such as Johnson's (1993) study of India, Johnson and Burton's (1987) Philippines study, and Kollehlon's (1989) study in the context of Liberia, this line of research has not been applied in the developing countries even though cultural factors are often implicated in shaping fertility trends (Lesthaeghe, 1989; Caldwell and Caldwell, 1987). Therefore this study represents one of the few attempts at assessing the relative importance of socioeconomic and cultural/ethnic factors in the explanation of ethnic fertility differences in a developing nation - Ghana