People & Lifestyle
CSOs call on government to depoliticize social protection delivery and pass the ‘Social Protection Bill’
SEND GHANA and other Civil Society Organisations in the country have appealed to the government to increase its spending on social protection programmes to help improve livelihoods based on finding in the Social Protection Mirror Report 2021.
The national launch of the “CITIZENS’ ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL PROTECTION DELIVERY IN GHANA: CSOs SOCIAL PROTECTION MIRROR REPORT 2021” which was organised by SEND GHANA and its CSO partners took place at the Coconut Grove Hotel on 29th June 2022.
According to key findings from the CSOs Social Protection Mirror Report 2021, the current spending for Social Protection Programmes like the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Ghana Social Feeding Programme (GSFP) and Capitation Grant (GC) is rather inadequate to sustain them for a long term.
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“Ghana’s spending on social protection programmes (LEAP, LIPW, NHIS, GSFP, GC) is less than 1 per cent of GDP, which is far less than 2.2 of GDP Regional average for Sub-Saharan Africa,”
“Incessant delays in the release/disbursement of funds to beneficiaries and service providers of all five social protection programmes” were key conclusions from the report.
Presenting the findings of the report at the event, Dr Isaac Nyarko of SEND Ghana said increasing social protection spending for Ghana is critical to reducing vulnerability and deprivation
among the poor.
He recommended that government should target a gradual increase in social protection to 4.5 per cent of GDP in 2025, in line with global benchmarks and commitments.
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The report further urged the government to strengthen social budget execution and ensure the timely release of funds for social protection programmes.
Below are five key recommendations for social protection delivery in Ghana from the Mirror Report 2021.
1. Government should increase social protection spending.
2. Government should establish a dedicated fund for social protection to ensure financial sustainability.
3. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection should fast-track the completion of the “Social Protection Bill” for passage.
4. Government must ensure full allocation of revenue generated for NHIS through the 2.5 levy.
5. Depoliticize social protection delivery by ensuring transparency and meritocracy in targeting and selection of beneficiaries.
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