At a meeting in Accra, representatives of more than 30 civil society organisations (CSOs) from across Ghana’s regions gathered to submit budget proposals to the Ministry of Finance as it finalises the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. The groups, part of the Ghana CSO Platform on SDGs, highlighted pressing needs in education, health, gender, social protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
CSOs and youth called for the completion of abandoned E‑blocks and 200‑KG blocks, deployment of special‑needs educators, and priority teacher housing in deprived communities. In health, they urged a 15 % share of the national budget, continuous supply of essential medicines, emergency preparedness, preventive NCD activities and increased domestic financing for family planning commodities.
For WASH, the participants requested funds for annual water quality monitoring, facility maintenance and earmarking at least 2 % of the WASH budget for disability and menstrual‑health‑friendly facilities in schools and health centres. The input will be forwarded to the Ministries of Finance; Gender, Children and Social Protection; Health; Education; and the ministry responsible for Water and Sanitation.
Harriet Nuamah Agyemang, Country Director for SEND GHANA, said it is vital that budgets reflect citizens’ realities and urged CSOs to engage in regional budget hearings. Advocacy and Communications Officer for Citizens Watch Ghana, Edmond Gyebi, praised the meeting for allowing communities to voice real problems and demand a budget that delivers tangible change.
All collated inputs will be presented to the relevant ministries, with SEND GHANA calling on them to ensure citizens’ priorities shape the 2027 national budget.
