A new UNICEF study has called for a major shift in Ghana’s public spending on children warning that current investment patterns are too heavily focused on later childhood while leaving the earliest years underfunded and unequal.
The report, titled “Unlocking Potential Early: Rebalancing Public Spending for Children in Ghana,” finds that although Ghana continues to record relatively strong child welfare indicators compared to the Sub-Saharan African average, significant gaps remain in how public resources are distributed, particularly against younger children and those from poorer households.
Ghana’s performance in key indicators remains notable with immunisation coverage at 95 per cent compared to a regional average of 74 per cent. Under-five mortality has also declined to 35.9 per 1,000 live births, about half the Sub-Saharan African average of 71.2. Pre-primary enrolment is also among the highest in the region at 88.1 per cent.
However, UNICEF cautions that these gains mask structural inequalities in public investment across childhood stages and income groups.
The study, described as the first age based analysis of public spending on children in Ghana from pregnancy through age 17, reveals that children aged 0–5 receive only about 13 per cent of total public spending on children, despite accounting for roughly one-third of the child population.
It also highlights major disparities in how resources are distributed. Children from the wealthiest households receive nearly twice as much public investment per capita as those from the poorest households, while rural–urban gaps remain persistent, particularly in access to education and essential services.
According to the report, public spending is heavily concentrated in education, which accounted for about 3.1 per cent of GDP in 2023. In contrast, social protection receives just 0.23 per cent of GDP, health about 2.0 per cent and child protection only 0.03 per cent.
UNICEF argues that while education remains critical, the current spending structure is overly skewed and does not adequately support the early years of development, where returns on investment are highest.
The report stresses that the earliest years of life form the foundation for health, learning, nutrition, protection and future productivity. It warns that when investment is delayed or unevenly distributed, inequality begins early and becomes more difficult and costly to reverse later in life.
Comparing Ghana’s approach with high-income countries, the study notes that wealthier nations spend significantly more on children and distribute resources more evenly across childhood stages with greater emphasis on early investment.
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, the report adds, nearly nine out of every ten public dollars invested in children goes to education, a pattern Ghana largely reflects.
To address these gaps, UNICEF is recommending a rebalancing of public spending towards earlier and more inclusive investment in children. It calls for increased investment in early childhood development, expanded social protection including support for pregnant mothers under LEAPband stronger systems covering childcare, nutrition, health, parenting services and child protection.
The report also urges Ghana to use its newly launched Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Policy (2025–2035) as a framework for gradual but sustained reform.
UNICEF modelling suggests that a comprehensive investment package equivalent to 7.2 per cent of GDP could have transformative effects, including the elimination of child poverty within three years, prevention of up to 18,000 child deaths, significant reductions in stunting, universal vaccination coverage, near-universal birth registration and improved school readiness outcomes.
The study concludes that while Ghana has made important progress in child welfare, a more balanced and earlier investment strategy is needed to fully unlock the potential of children and strengthen long-term national development.
By: Michael Walier
