The Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, has highlighted the government’s commitment to prioritize the well-being of vulnerable segments of society.
Addressing a joint press conference between the government of Ghana and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday on the country’s $3 billion bailout package, Mr. Ofori-Atta said it is in the government’s interest to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected.
Mr. Ofori-Atta said to demonstrate this commitment, the government has taken specific measures to strengthen social protection programs and allocate additional resources to key initiatives.
One notable development highlighted by the Finance Minister is the increased resource envelope for the school feeding programme.
In addition to the school feeding programme, the government plans to double the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
LEAP provides direct cash transfers to the poorest households in Ghana, assisting them in meeting their basic needs and improving their livelihoods.
He reiterated that the government’s commitment to protecting the vulnerable is unwavering and emphasized that there is no cause for alarm.
He said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made it clear that the protection of vulnerable groups will not be compromised.
Stéphane Roudet, the IMF Mission Chief for Ghana, acknowledged the significance of social protection programmes in the country’s economic framework.
Roudet highlighted that ensuring the creation and strengthening of such initiatives is a key objective of the IMF collaboration.
