Ghana: CRI Seeks Protection Policy for Vulnerable Groups

Child Rights International (CRI) has called on the government of Ghana to clarify its position regarding key social intervention programmes following the bailout programme of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Development Diaries reports that CRI’s Executive Director, Bright Appiah, made the call when he spoke on TV3’s morning show, New Day.

He asked the government not to allow external pressure to influence the country in abandoning any of its social intervention programmes.

It is understood that IMF approved a three billion dollar bailout fund for Ghana to help the rest of the country’s economy and ease the economic hardship on citizens.

In May, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, confirmed that the country had received the first $600 million tranche of the bailout fund.

According to data from the World Bank, Ghana’s agriculture and service sectors experienced slower growth in 2022 than the year before.

Appiah said it would be suicidal if the government was to implement any programme that would worsen the living condition of the vulnerable in society.

He argued that if social intervention programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Programme (LEAP) and Free Senior High School are yielding positive results, they should be strengthened.

‘If the vehicle is giving us results, we need to strengthen it and channel more resources there, in order to benefit those who are in need’, Ghana Times quoted Appiah as saying.

‘If the foundation of these programmes is shaken because of the IMF impact, the country needs to take a look at how best to protect the vulnerable groups so that we can position ourselves in these difficult times’.

Appiah also raised concerns over children getting involved in illegal small-scale gold mining, urging the government to develop a policy to protect children from the act.

Photo source:  Child Right International

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