UCA News
Contribute

Caritas official: Ghana's Covid-19 policy good, but implementation weak

Caritas head in Ghana says governments were tending to mind more about their economic recovery
 Caritas official: Ghana's Covid-19 policy good, but implementation weak

Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, delivers a speech after a meeting in Bamako on July 23, 2020 as West African leaders gather in a fresh push to end an escalating political crisis in the fragile state of Mali. (Photo: MICHELE CATTANI / AFP)

Published: July 28, 2020 06:38 PM GMT
Updated: July 28, 2020 06:40 PM GMT

The head of Caritas Ghana said although the government of the West African country had good policies in mitigating COVID-19, its approach to implementing the policies was weak.

Samuel Zan Akologo, executive secretary of Caritas Ghana, said the several side events and fringe meetings at this year's U.N. high-level political forum, which focused on the implications of the virus and government responses, prompted him to reflect on Ghana's response plan.

"A critical message that gained popularity in most of the sessions that I followed is that governments, especially in Africa, were tending to mind more about their economic recovery to the neglect of social protection for their vulnerable populations," he said.

Akologo said he "concluded, rightly or wrongly, that the general assertion of policy neglect for the poor did not apply in Ghana." He said early priorities by Ghana included an alleviation program for the poor, but what remains to be seen is implementation.

Akologo referred to several programs that Ghana has had in place and noted that the country's COVID-19 economic recovery plan was still being finalized. But, referring to the programs to support the poor, he added, "the devil is always in the detail."

He said some preliminary findings "indicate that some of the district assemblies are unaware of their roles in the government COVID-19 alleviation program" and inquired: "What is going on with implementation of public policies even when they are so clearly outlined and documented?"

He said civil and church agencies like Caritas Ghana "can still do more, especially in advocacy toward government responsiveness."

Part of Caritas Ghana's support in ensuring the effective implementation of policies, he said, included "facilitating dialogue meetings with broad stakeholders from government, media, NGOs and vulnerable populations to discuss" how the government's plans to protect the population could better help the poor.

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia