Gifty Ohene-Konadu calls for specific interventions to benefit women and children

The presentation of the Government’s 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament last week is commendable and well acknowledged.

As stakeholders in national development, we welcome the budget’s broad commitments and the steps taken toward economic stability. However, the statement does not provide sufficient specificity on targeted interventions that will directly benefit women and, by extension, children.

Women remain central to Ghana’s economy as traders, farmers, caregivers, and community leaders. The health, education, and nutritional outcomes of children are also closely linked to the wellbeing of women. For the Mid-Year Budget Review to translate into meaningful impact, it is important that more deliberate attention is given to issues affecting women and children.

While the budget makes reference to social protection and job creation, it does not provide details on concrete programmes, budget allocations, or measurable targets aimed at supporting women. Government is therefore encouraged to outline specific interventions for women in agriculture, trade, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including access to affordable credit, improved maternal healthcare, and measures to reduce unpaid care work through investments in childcare and water infrastructure.

Children’s welfare and gender linkages

Investments that support women have a multiplier effect on children and families. Improving women’s economic and social wellbeing contributes significantly to better outcomes for children and strengthens communities as a whole.

Women’s advancement and leadership

Government should demonstrate renewed commitment to issues that promote women’s advancement. This includes clear measures to increase women’s representation in leadership and decision-making positions within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), public boards, and state institutions. It should also provide incentives for the private sector to adopt gender-responsive policies.

Government is therefore being called upon to:

Publish a gender-responsive budget annex with specific allocations and performance indicators for women.

Scale up support for women entrepreneurs, women in agribusiness, and women pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Set measurable targets to increase women’s representation in leadership and decision-making positions.

Invest in care infrastructure to reduce the burdens placed on women and enable their full participation in economic activities.

With these deliberate actions, the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review can deliver more inclusive and sustainable growth. The advancement of women is the advancement of Ghana, and we remain committed to partnering with government to achieve this goal.

Gifty Ohene-Konadu

Former Member of Parliament