Accra, April 1, – Ghana has unveiled a National Shock-Responsive Social Protection Strategy aimed at enhancing systems that protect vulnerable populations from economic, health, and climate-related shocks.
The Strategy, launched Wednesday under the theme: “From Preparedness to Resilience: Strengthening Shock-Responsive Social Protection Systems in Ghana,” seeks to transform existing mechanisms into a dynamic framework capable of anticipating, absorbing, and responding effectively to crises.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, described the initiative as a decisive step towards building a resilient and adaptive social protection system.
She said the framework, including standard operating procedures and an implementation plan, was designed to strengthen national capacity to protect lives and livelihoods during emergencies, ensuring swift, coordinated, and large-scale responses.
Citing recent events, Dr. Lartey highlighted the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage, which displaced more than 30,000 people across three regions, severe flooding in 2024 affecting about 70,000 in northern Ghana, and prolonged dry spells impacting over 214,000 households, especially beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme.
“These incidents highlight not only the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related shocks but also their disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable,” she said.
Dr. Lartey added that climate change remained a major threat to livelihoods, food security, and human development, and that Africa continued to be one of the most vulnerable regions globally. She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed structural weaknesses in Ghana’s social protection system, particularly in rapidly scaling support to informal sector populations.
The Strategy provides a national framework to guide Ghana on anticipating risks, preparing for shocks, responding rapidly during crises, and supporting recovery in a coordinated and inclusive manner. It aligns with national development priorities and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mrs. Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, a Member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, described the policy as timely and necessary, noting that global and domestic crises had exposed gaps in social protection and worsened vulnerabilities.
“These compounding crises have taught us that social protection cannot remain static,” she said.
Mrs. Mariam W. A. Kpakpah, Chief Director of the Ministry, emphasised the importance of partnerships in advancing social protection, saying collaboration among stakeholders was critical to reaching those most in need during crises.
Ghana’s social protection system has achieved gains through interventions such as the LEAP Programme and the Ghana School Feeding Programme, which have improved access to basic needs and reduced extreme poverty among vulnerable households.
However, a 2023 assessment identified challenges including limited data coverage, financing constraints, and weak coordination, which hinder rapid and effective emergency responses. The new Strategy aims to address these gaps by strengthening institutional coordination, improving targeting systems, and ensuring sustainable financing.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting implementation, with Parliament pledging legislative backing and oversight. They said a resilient social protection system is both a social obligation and a critical pillar for sustainable development, poverty reduction, and national stability.
GHBUSS
1 April 2026
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