Election 2020: Put more money into social protection - Ghanaians demand in new survey

The coronavirus pandemic, which is ravaging the world has shown, yet again, the critical need to invest in social protection as a country. As a new study by the United Nations has shown, this pandemic could turn back the clock 30 years on global poverty. Similarly, Delloite, in their study on the impact of the Covid-19 on the economy of Ghana notes that Ghana’s estimated GDP growth is set to plummet from a target of 6.8% to about 2.6% in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There could not be a better time to have a conversation on social protection than now, especially as the pandemic could potentially worsen the widening inequalities already present in the country.

The 2020 election presents a greater opportunity for Ghanaians to put some of the many issues confronting the country’s poor and vulnerable on the national agenda as political parties campaign for the people’s mandate. It is important to note that the adverse impact that Covid-19 would leave behind would pose an even daunting challenge for the next government to deliver on its promises. This makes it even more imperative for political parties to show a clear commitment on how they would deliver on some of the most critical aspects of social protection.

Long before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana, SEND GHANA, and its partners have had broader consultations with citizens across the country to share their expectations of what they are looking forward to in the manifestos of contesting political parties to address poverty and inequality.

Several development issues and concerns, including low coverage of social interventions, lack of dedicated sources of funding for social interventions, and insufficient transparency and accountability in the delivery of social interventions were the key issues citizens want political parties to commit to in the development of their social protection manifested.

With just about 7 months to go to the next polls, the electorates must remain focused and demand from political parties to prioritize these critical issues in their social protection manifestoes and show a clear commitment to implementing them when they win the people’s mandate.

Signed:

George Osei-Akoto-Bimpeh

(Country Director – SEND GHANA)