04/04/2025
Mahama Government’s Commitment to Social Protection in 2025: A Mirage or Materiality?
In the inner city of Accra, young Lamile sits in her classroom, eagerly awaiting the lunchtime bell. For her and millions of other children across Ghana, school meals are more than just sustenance, they are a promise of hope. In 2025, this promise is being reinforced, with the government increasing budgetary allocation for the School Feeding Programme from GH₵1.344 billion to GH₵1.788 billion, a remarkable 33% rise. This increase raises the cost per meal from GH₵1.50 to GH₵2.00, a 33.3% boost.
However, while this increment may seem significant on paper, the reality tells a different story. With food prices soaring due to inflation, GH₵2.00 is barely enough to provide a nutritious meal. In many cases, it cannot even buy a single egg, let alone a balanced diet. Experts and stakeholders have long advocated for an increase to at least GH₵5.00 per meal to ensure adequate nutrition for children.
Despite the programme's importance, successive governments, since President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration have failed to treat it as a priority, instead using it as a political tool. The situation is worsening as financially constrained caterers struggle to provide meals, often providing low quality meals and missing cooking days so that they can break through. Many are questioning whether the programme is truly fulfilling its intended purpose or merely cycling through political promises.
Meanwhile, in a small village in the Northern Region, Dawuni, a father of three, finds solace in the government's renewed commitment to the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme. The number of beneficiary households is set to increase from 350,000 to 400,000 by July 2025, extending direct financial support to more vulnerable families. Additionally, the LEAP budget will now be indexed to inflation, ensuring rising costs do not diminish its impact. With an increased allocation from GH₵728.8 million to GH₵953.5 million, a 30.8% rise, Dawuni and thousands of others will be able to afford their basic needs.
However, a pressing concern remains persistent delays in LEAP disbursements. Many beneficiaries wait months after each cycle to receive payments, making it difficult to depend on the support for daily survival. Moreover, the amounts disbursed often fall short of the daily subsistence needs, leaving households vulnerable. To maximize impact, the government must ensure timely payments, adjust disbursement frequency, and regularly review grant amounts to reflect economic realities.
Healthcare remains a key priority, but challenges persist. The government pledges to implement reforms and increase budgetary support for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), a key pillar of social protection. As part of this commitment, it is uncapping the National Health Insurance Levy, ensuring improved sector financing. A total of GH₵9.93 billion is earmarked for NHIS to cover essential medicines, vaccine payments, and the Free Primary Healthcare initiative. Additionally, the Mahama Care initiative, aimed at easing the financial burden of treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is a welcome step toward addressing Ghana’s rising NCD-related mortality rates.
However, while the NHIS funding figures seem impressive, concerns persist regarding longstanding issues with disbursements and delayed payments to service providers as well as inefficiencies associated with the appointment of political apparatchiks to manage the scheme. It is important to mention that without professionalism, transparent and accountable framework, increased funding alone will not guarantee meaningful improvements in the delivery of quality healthcare to Ghanaians especially the vulnerable groups.
Education is also set for a major boost. The Capitation Grant, which supports free basic education, is increasing from GH₵84 million in 2024 to GH₵145.5 million in 2025 a remarkable 73.2% rise. For teachers like Madam Afia of Aboabo No. 1 Basic School, this means more classroom materials, improved school infrastructure, and a better learning environment. For parents, it reaffirms the government’s commitment to accessible education for every Ghanaian child.
Additionally, a groundbreaking initiative is being introduced, the free tertiary education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). This policy eliminates financial barriers, enabling students with disabilities to pursue higher education without tuition burdens. For young Samuel, a visually impaired student aspiring to become a lawyer, this initiative is a life-changing opportunity. With government support, he can now enroll in university with confidence, knowing that his dreams are within reach. This bold step demonstrates the government’s dedication to inclusivity and equal opportunities.
In conclusion, the government's commitment to social protection through NHIS, LEAP, the School Feeding Programme, the Capitation Grant, free tertiary education for PWDs, and Mahama Care reflects a broader vision of inclusive growth and sustainable development. By expanding funding, the administration aims to break the cycle of poverty and provide a safety net for the vulnerable.
However, as Lamile struggles with her meager school meal, Dawuni awaits his delayed LEAP payments, and Samuel looks forward to university education, the reality of food inflation, political mismanagement, and delays in social protection payments threatens to overshadow these ambitious policies. Will these programmes fulfill their potential, or will they become yet another chapter in the long history of political rhetoric?
Sualisu Salifu
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