SEND GHANA, OXFAM mobilise CSOs, youth to shape 2027 Budget

SEND GHANA and OXFAM have united civil society organizations (CSOs) and young people to formulate proposals for the upcoming 2027 National Budget. The objective is to ensure the budget aligns with citizens' needs and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At a gathering in Accra, over 30 CSOs from Ghana CSO Platform on SDGs, representing various regions, pinpointed key challenges in education, health, gender, social protection, and WASH.

They suggested vital interventions for the government to consider in the 2027 budget. Education-wise, they demanded completion of abandoned E-blocks and 200-KG school blocks, deployment of special needs educators, and teacher housing in underprivileged areas. Health-wise, they demanded a budget share of at least 15% for the sector, funding for essential medicines and medical equipment, emergency preparedness, and interventions to curb non-communicable diseases.

In WASH, they urged the government to allocate funds for water quality monitoring, facility maintenance, and at least 2% of the budget for disability-friendly and menstrual health-friendly school and health center facilities. SEND GHANA's Country Director, Ms Harriet Nuamah Agyemang, emphasized that government budgets must mirror citizens' realities and aspirations.

Participants praised SEND GHANA, OXFAM, and partners for providing a platform for citizen participation in the budgeting process. Edmond Gyebi, Advocacy and Communications Officer of Citizens Watch Ghana, highlighted the meeting's role in articulating community challenges and advocating for a budget that addresses those concerns.

He stressed that a budget should not only be impressive on paper but also deliver tangible improvements in people's lives. The CSO inputs will be forwarded to relevant ministries for incorporation into the 2027 National Budget. SEND GHANA has urged the ministries to include the proposals to ensure the budget supports inclusive and sustainable development.