Accra, Ghana, 16 December 2025 (ECA) - Strengthening social protection programmes that shield the poor and vulnerable, lift individuals and households out of extreme poverty and deprivation is not only a moral imperative, but a strategic investment in human capital and national stability, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection noted during the opening of a two-day high-level Stakeholder’s Forum on Social Protection in Ghana.
Held in Accra, the Forum which brought together representatives from government, civil society organizations, development partners and academia provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on Ghana’s progress in building a stronger and more inclusive social protection system, while identifying outstanding gaps and innovations that can enhance the national system.
Minister Lartey underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing social protection, noting that Ghana recently passed the 2025 National Social Protection Act that provides a coherent legal framework for coordination, integration, and sustainable financing of the social protection system.
She cited domestic financing underpinned by secure, predictable and sustainable funding; the integration of systems to enhance the targeting of social protection, accuracy and reducing duplication, and the development of a shock-responsive system as key pillars of the national social protection strategy.
While noting the progress made in strengthening key social protection programmes and in the expansion of coverage to additional vulnerable households, critical gaps in coverage, adequacy of benefits, and the provision of comprehensive support for poor families in urban and rural areas, persons with disabilities, older persons without pensions, and children living in hard-to-reach communities remain.
Underscoring that social protection is critical for inclusive development and a powerful catalyst for economic productivity in Ghana, she noted that ECA’s Bridging Social Protection Gaps in the Arab and Africa Regions project is supporting Ghana to advance its social protection priorities, uphold dignity, advance equity, and ensure that no one is left behind.
She emphasized that development partners should ensure the support provided aligns with national social protection laws and strategy, and called for continued investment in capacity building, innovation, and in long-term systems strengthening.
Patrick Nomo, Chief Director at the Ministry of Finance noted that the collaboration with ECA has been vital in improving the evidence base that will enable Ghana to better identify vulnerabilities, anticipate shocks, and to better assess the performance of existing programmes.
Christian Oldiges, Chief of the Social Policy Section, noted that ECA’s analyses on multidimensional poverty and vulnerability to poverty in Ghana highlighted ongoing gaps. He urged stakeholders to use the data generated to inform poverty reduction strategies, enhance national planning, and to improve policy coordination and decision-making.
Issued by:
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Economic Commission for Africa
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