Ghana has been lauded for its social development policies and programmes at the ongoing 57th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development on the theme, “addressing inequalities and challenges of social inclusion through fiscal and social protection policies.
Ghana, Zimbabwe, Peru and the state of Palestine were selected on an inter-ministerial panel to share their program and challenges of growth with other nations aimed at achieving the 2030 target of ending all forms of poverty amongst others indicators.
Mr Cheik Niagi, of the Bureau of the Commission for Social Development, while commending the nations on the ministerial panel urged them to share their experiences and lessons to attain the global targets adding this half of the world’s population is cut off from social protection.
It is in this direction that the government is preparing four bills before parliament for passage.
These are the School Feeding bill, Affirmative Action bill, social Protection bill and the Aged person bill to promote inclusive economic growth.
Ghana’s delegation led by the Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Morrison highlighted the gains Ghana has made under some of its flagship programs like the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) which has expanded to benefit about 1.7 million individuals.
This according to the minister has already improved school enrollment by 12% among other deliverables in economy and agriculture sectors.
Ghana and the World Bank will soon implement a graduated LEAP which will focus more on coaching, mentoring and skills support for beneficiaries as both an exit and economic sustaining projects.
In addition to this a labour intensive work otogrM6, aimed at providing temporary employment over 167,000 workers will expand the those at the lower end of the social system excluded from the existing employment system.
Currently, Ghana’s social protection programs such us “Planting for food and jobs, Free SHS is showing evidence of bridging the inequality gap and improving inclusive development.
Mrs Morrison did not mince words on the funding challenges faced by Ghana and the threat this poses to the sustainability of these programs.
She says though 90% of her ministry’s budgetary allocation is spent on social protection programs, more funded is needed from donor partners.
Zimbabwe’s minister for Public Service and Labour, Irene, Nzenza says her government had been more radical in social development by imposing tax regimes to raise the money to fund social inclusion projects.
She cited call time tax of 5% to supply antiretroviral drugs to HIV persons and food assistance to over 600,000 households.
She says despite their initial challenges, Zimbabwe has made tremendous gains resulting in ownership of land by women growing to about 29% of women who hitherto cut off.
Representatives from the International Labour Organisation, European Union read statements of progress so far.