Accra, March 31, GNA – Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the country, numbering 400 associations, have called on government to put in place measures to protect the poor and the vulnerable in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CSOs under the Ghana CSOs platform on Sustainable Development Goals said such measures would ensure that such persons were protected against the pandemic.
In a press statement issued by the coalition of CSOs to the Ghana News Agency, it said: “As Government contemplates the next steps of these partial lockdown and as Ghanaians prepare for the potentially devastating impact of this pandemic on the development and economy of the nation, civil society organizations from across Ghana are appealing to Government to consider further, these specific measures that will protect the lives and livelihoods of the poorest and most vulnerable women, men and children in our society.”
As part of the measures, they have called on government to allow access for competent, qualified civil society organizations to the most vulnerable communities to deliver potentially life-saving interventions to affected populations in the partial lockdown areas the country.
They also called on government to put in place a multi-stakeholder board to manage the COVID 19 Fund, adding that, such a committee should include representatives from civil society organisations and the private sector.
The statement said government needed to control market policy and enforcement, as well as ensure transparency and accountability in all COVID 19 related expenditures.
It said: “As CSOs operating in Ghana, we are happy to announce the establishment of a CSOs COVID 19 Response Committee to manage the CSOs COVID 19 Fund. The Fund is currently mobilizing donations in cash and kind from CSOs and individual philanthropists.”
“In conclusion, we appeal to Government to establish and convene a multi-stakeholder forum through which we can share information about our collective efforts to mobilize resources for the national response and coordinate our plans and interventions to align with Government priorities and respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable among us,” it added.
GNA