Gender Data Ghana calls for increased funding for healthcare and child protection in 2027 budget

Gender Data Ghana (GDG) is calling for increased and predictable funding for healthcare and child protection in the 2027 National Budget, urging the government to address persistent inequalities affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups. The independent, non-profit and non-partisan think tank says greater investment in primary healthcare, maternal and reproductive health services and child protection institutions is needed to translate government policy commitments into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on November 12, GDG said the national budget must reflect the government’s constitutional obligations and commitment to the well-being and dignity of citizens. “The national budget is a powerful expression of the Government’s priorities, constitutional obligations and commitment to the well-being and dignity of its people, especially populations that have been left behind,” portions of the statement read.

On healthcare, GDG expressed concern about persistent shortages of essential medical supplies, inadequate hospital infrastructure, disparities in access to healthcare and high maternal mortality. It cited an estimated maternal mortality rate of 243 deaths per 100,000 live births, saying Ghana remained considerably behind the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths by 2030.

The organisation is therefore calling for “increased allocations to primary healthcare, maternal and reproductive health services, essential medicines, hospital beds, oxygen supplies, personal protective equipment and emergency referral systems, particularly in underserved communities.” It also urged the government to explore local manufacturing of essential medical supplies to create employment opportunities for young people and strengthen national health security.

On child protection, GDG referenced the recent sexual abuse allegations involving female students at Obuasi Senior High Technical School, saying the case had exposed weaknesses in Ghana’s child protection and institutional accountability systems. “The protection of children cannot be left to institutional goodwill, internal investigations or the courage of individual whistleblowers.

It requires properly resourced, independent and accessible protection mechanisms,” the statement said. Press Release on the 2027 Budget Reading 11 3 2026Download GDG urged the Ministry of Finance to prioritise funding for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, its Department of Social Welfare and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.

It further recommended the progressive deployment of professionally trained social welfare officers to public educational institutions across the country. According to the organisation, the officers should operate independently of the Ghana Education Service, with clear reporting and referral arrangements, to ensure that children’s welfare takes precedence over institutional reputation or the interests of alleged perpetrators.

The statement also called for adequate budgetary support for professional training, survivor-centred services, psychosocial care, investigations and access to justice. On infrastructure development, GDG urged the Ministry of Finance to institutionalise gender and human rights impact assessments in the planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring of major infrastructure projects.

It said poor roads and prolonged construction works affect women’s access to healthcare, markets and livelihoods, while exposing schoolchildren to safety risks and making it difficult for pregnant women to access emergency obstetric care. “Public investment must deliver equitable social and economic returns, not merely physical infrastructure,” it stated.

GDG also called for gender-responsive budgeting to be institutionalised across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, supported by gender budget statements, measurable expenditure indicators and periodic reporting on actual expenditure and outcomes. It urged the Ministry to support the generation and use of gender statistics, including the proposed SDG 5+ Gender Equality Index, in national development planning and budget monitoring.

The organisation stressed that healthcare, gender equality and child protection should not be treated as peripheral or competing priorities. “They are fundamental to productivity, social stability, human capital development and sustainable economic growth,” it added.