15/05/2026
Together with Development Partners, UNICEF Ghana convened a Breakfast Dialogue on the IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The open and thoughtful engagement created space for rich reflection on how Ghana can sustain progress for children beyond the ECF period.
The dialogue highlighted Ghana’s impressive gains under the ECF, including improved macroeconomic stability and strengthened protection for social sector spending in education, health, and social protection. These safeguards have contributed to some improved outcomes for children, including expanded LEAP coverage and improved NHIS enrolment, sustained vaccine coverage and improved education enrolment.
As the ECF concludes in August 2026, the discussion underscored a shared recognition that continued and deliberate investment in children is not only a moral imperative, but one of the smartest investments for long‑term national development, even amid fiscal pressures and declining Official Development Assistance.
Key reflections emphasised the importance of embedding social spending protections within the post‑ECF fiscal framework. Priorities included strengthening LEAP to reach all extremely poor households, children, and pregnant women; ensuring automatic indexation of grant sizes and timely payments; enhancing prioritisation and accountability for child‑focused spending; safeguarding statutory transfers for sustained health and education investments; and linking fiscal and debt management to measurable outcomes for children.
UNICEF remains committed to working alongside the government and partners to translate these shared priorities into action, ensuring that Ghana’s hard‑won economic progress delivers lasting and equitable outcomes for every child.
