By Stanley Senya
Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – SEND GHANA has welcomed the government’s significant increase in social sector spending in the 2026 Budget but cautions that persistent implementation challenges may limit the impact of these investments on vulnerable communities.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the GH¢302.4 billion budget, representing an 18.9 per cent share of GDP, demonstrated renewed government commitment to improving education, health, agriculture, and social protection systems.
This means the allocation to the social sector has increased to GH¢67.8 billion, up from GH¢53.7 billion in 2025.
The organisation said several of its long-standing proposals were reflected in the budget following extensive pre-budget engagements with policymakers.
These include incentive schemes to retain teachers in rural areas, completion of health projects under Agenda 111, and support for agricultural value addition through decentralised processing plants.
SEND Ghana acknowledged government plans to expand access through the construction of new basic schools, teacher bungalows, and improved sanitation facilities.
It described the proposed 20 percent allowance for teachers serving in rural communities as “a major step” toward ensuring equitable teacher deployment and improving learning outcomes.
However, the group urged the government to prioritise recruitment to fill staffing gaps and ensure new schools were equipped with safe water systems and gender-sensitive sanitation facilities.
SEND Ghana also called for increased investment in special and inclusive schools, noting many remained poorly resourced and unevenly distributed across regions.
The organisation welcomed plans to complete 522 CHPS compounds and 20 hospital projects in 2026, but warned that infrastructure expansion must be accompanied by service readiness, including adequate staffing, emergency referral systems, and reliable supply of essential medicines.
Given rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), SEND Ghana called for a stronger shift toward preventive healthcare.
It recommended integrating wellness centres in all new health facilities and expanding the NCD financing policy to include screening and early detection services.
The organisation also insisted that public-private partnerships under MahamaCare must ensure affordability and prevent the return of high out-of-pocket health payments.
The 2026 budget allocation of GH¢292.4 million for free sanitary pads for schoolgirls was described as a “notable and necessary intervention,” but SEND Ghana said it risked excluding out-of-school adolescents and apprentices who also faced period poverty.
It also welcomed the GH¢1 million allocation to the Domestic Violence Fund but called for predictable, multi-year financing to improve survivor support services.
SEND Ghana further urged a dedicated NHIS allocation for family planning commodities to address nationwide shortages.
While commending the rollout of over 4,000 agricultural machines under the Farmer Service Centre initiative, the organisation warned that such programmes risked elite capture unless beneficiary selection was transparent and community-driven.
SEND Ghana also praised the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development but stressed the need for a costed implementation plan and strong oversight to address concerns about substandard agrochemicals affecting yields and public safety.
Despite welcoming increased allocations to Free SHS, health infrastructure, social protection programmes such as LEAP (GH¢1.057 billion) and School Feeding (GH¢1.98 billion), SEND Ghana emphasised that budget credibility remained a major concern.
SEND Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to working with government, Parliament, civil society, and citizens to ensure the 2026 Budget delivered tangible improvements in equity, welfare, and inclusive national development.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie