Ghana’s public spending on children disproportionately neglects the youngest age group, according to a new study backed by UNICEF. Children aged 0-5 years receive only 13% of public spending on children, despite making up about one-third of Ghana’s child population.
This imbalance risks widening inequality and weakening the systems designed to support children. The report, titled Unlocking Potential Early: Rebalancing Public Spending for Children in Ghana, highlights the uneven investment across health, education, social protection, and child welfare. Children from wealthier households receive nearly double the public investment per capita compared to those from poorer families, exacerbating existing disparities.
This finding fits into a broader narrative of Ghana's public finance allocations, where certain sectors receive significantly more funding. For instance, public spending on education accounted for 3.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023. In contrast, social protection received a mere 0.23% of GDP, health about 2%, and child protection only 0.03%. These figures underscore a significant skew in national priorities concerning child welfare.
Dominic Richardson, lead researcher and Managing Director of the Learning for Well-being Institute, warned about the consequences of this imbalance. He stated, “The issue when there is no balance in the policy portfolio is it creates weaknesses in the overall system that is designed to care for children.” He added that a lack of cash benefits can impede access to childcare or healthcare for some children. Health system weaknesses lead to children being too sick for school, and inadequate child protection increases child labour. These interconnected issues perpetuate inequality.
Addressing this issue requires strategic shifts in public policy. UNICEF modelling suggests a comprehensive investment package amounting to 7.2% of GDP could eliminate child poverty within three years. Such an investment could also prevent up to 18,000 premature child deaths and achieve universal vaccination coverage. Improved school readiness would also result from these increased investments.
To reverse the current trend, Richardson urged Ghana to prioritise implementation of the existing Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Policy. He described this policy as “excellent” and already “on the books in Ghana.” Additionally, he recommended introducing a universal child benefit, starting with the youngest children and gradually expanding coverage. This policy is recognized globally as highly effective for optimal child development.
Investing earlier and more equitably in children would position Ghana as a frontrunner in Africa. UNICEF believes this approach would help ensure every child has an equal opportunity to thrive. Decision-makers must now consider how to reallocate resources to support Ghana's youngest citizens, impacting long-term economic and social development.