Civil Society Lauds Passage of Social Protection Bill, Urges Speedy Presidential Assent and Swift Implementation

The Civil Society Organisations Partnership for Social Accountability in Social Protection commends Parliament and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for passing the Social Protection (SP) Bill, 2025.

This marks a significant step towards safeguarding the well-being of the country’s most at-risk populations and advancing social justice. The bill provides for the establishment of a Social Protection Fund, which will ensure guaranteed and sustained financing for critical poverty alleviation programmes, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Ghana School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grants for basic education, and healthcare exemptions under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

For many years, civil society has consistently advocated for the passage of the SP Law to provide a legal basis for social protection. CSOs have played a crucial role in the development of the bill, actively engaging with Parliament, stakeholders, and the Ministry, and mobilising support for the passage of the bill. We are pleased to see that the voices of civil society are being acknowledged in the pursuit of social equity.

Currently, millions of Ghanaians rely on social protection programmes for their economic, health, and education needs. Unfortunately, these programmes have often faced delays in funding and disbursement, leaving poor households without their expected LEAP stipends, school children without meals, and many vulnerable individuals unable to access healthcare or keep their children in school. These delays have had real consequences for people who depend on these interventions for daily survival.

The passage of this bill and the establishment of a dedicated fund offer substantial support to families impacted by crises, particularly during periods of shock and emergency. It promises timely and sustained financing, ensuring that social protection is functional when it is most needed and delivered from a rights-based perspective. For many Ghanaians, this means that meals for children will arrive on time, LEAP payments will be consistent, and access to health and education services will be more reliable.

We hope that His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, will expedite assent to this bill and ensure that the law is effectively implemented for the greatest benefit of Ghanaians.

Ghana Civil Society Partnership for Social Accountability in Social Protection

Gregory Lierfu Dery

World Vision

(0246054880)

Harriet N. Agyemang

SEND GHANA

(0244982439)

Auberon Jeleel Odoom

Inclusion Ghana

(0208151523)