Beyond promises: strengthening social policies for lasting change

By Isaac FRIMPONG (Ph.D.)

In less than three months, Ghanaian citizens will make crucial decisions as they participate in the electoral process to select their next president and parliamentarians. As is customary in a pre-election period, the populace is presented with an array of promises designed to transform the nation’s economy.

However, many of these promises, although appealing, appear to be narrowly focused on specific segments of the population. While this approach may effectively garner votes, the broader question remains: How do these yet-to-be-fulfilled promises address the core issues that concern Ghanaians, such as quality education, healthcare, governance, and infrastructure development?

As a researcher with a vested interest in Ghana’s socio-economic development, I present in this article an objective, apolitical perspective on how social policies can be strengthened to ensure equitable access to essential services for every Ghanaian, regardless of their geographical location within Ghana.

In this regard, it is necessary to look beyond election promises and assess the long-term sustainability of the proposed policies, particularly as they pertain to the overall welfare of the population.

Targeted interventions

Politicians often refer to their promises as “interventions” because they are designed to address specific issues or problems. These interventions tend to be narrow in scope and focus on mitigating immediate concerns.

While targeted interventions can be effective, especially when they seek to prevent harm, promote human flourishing, protect the most vulnerable, or transform social structures, they often fall short in the Ghanaian context. This is because, over the years, numerous interventions have snowballed across various government departments, causing fragmentation and sometimes overlap, and are poorly coordinated, leading to design and delivery errors and failure to achieve the desired results.

This approach reduces the role of social policies from broad, universal frameworks to piecemeal, isolated pockets of social protection measures. While social protection is undoubtedly important, it should be viewed as a subset of social policy, not the policy itself.

Addressing policy gaps

Ghana requires interventions that enhance and support existing social policies. Strengthening and refining these policies can reduce inefficiencies and address gaps, ensuring a more equitable delivery of services. One critical area often overlooked is the impact of population growth.

My research has identified a book by Dr. Leticia Appiah titled “Human Resource to Human Capital: The Essence of Population Management”. This book emphasises that, without proper population management, high population growth dictates the infrastructural needs of the populace and distorts the developmental plan agenda.

The author, basing her argument on data, explains that Ghana’s population is growing at an annual rate of 2.1 percent, more than double the global average of 1 percent. Such rapid growth places immense pressure on infrastructure, employment, and public services, such as education and healthcare.

Without proper planning, the country risks creating a population of dependents rather than empowering citizens to meaningfully contribute to national development. Population growth directly affects governance, education, health, employment and migration.

To this end, it is essential to pose critical questions regarding how existing social policies can be improved. For example:

Education: The Free Senior High School (SHS) programme has provided access to individuals who would not have had the opportunity. How can it be refined to eliminate the double-track system, which has created significant challenges for students and teachers alike? Furthermore, how can universities restore an academic calendar that provides adequate breaks for lecturers and students and ensures better teaching and learning outcomes?

Social Protection and Social Risks: The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme has successfully provided financial support to the most vulnerable but it could be expanded to also cover the working poor in urban areas, including informal workers and low-income families.

Additionally, reducing adolescent pregnancies and eliminating child marriages are crucial for the social well-being of future generations, requiring both stronger legislation and community-based education and support programmes

Healthcare: The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) aims to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for all Ghanaian residents. However, for numerous Ghanaians, accessing healthcare at the point of use remains problematic. Issues such as automatic enrolment and coverage gaps necessitate urgent attention to ensure the universality of healthcare provision.

Youth and Employment: With an annual influx of over 100,000 graduates into the labour market, the creation of sufficient employment opportunities presents a significant challenge. Addressing this issue requires a long-term strategic approach that aligns population growth and educational outcomes with job creation in the technology, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.

Central to this conversation is the necessity to expand the conceptualisation of social policies in tandem with economic policies and population growth. Social policy encompasses more than mere social protection; it involves the establishment of a society where access to education, healthcare, housing, and security is universally guaranteed.

For Ghana to achieve sustainable development, its social policies must be cognisant of population management. This includes addressing the fundamental causes of poverty and inequality rather than implementing short-term remedial measures. Universal access to basic human needs is not a luxury but a necessity for Ghana’s sustainable development.

Conclusion

As Ghana contemplates its future, the conversation surrounding social policies must transition from fragmented, narrowly targeted interventions to a more comprehensive, universal approach. Strengthening existing social policies and ensuring their inclusivity, effectiveness, and sustainability will facilitate the development of a more equitable and prosperous Ghana.

In the period preceding the elections, citizens should critically examine the true significance of social policy. Beyond electoral promises, the focus should be on constructing a nation where education, healthcare, housing, and security are accessible to every Ghanaian, irrespective of their background or geographical location. This approach is fundamental to the creation of a truly flourishing, inclusive society.

The writer is a Researcher and Consultant

[email protected]

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