SEND Ghana together with its partners held the National Level Dialogue on The Citizens Social Sector Manifesto to provide platform for representatives of the two major political parties, the NPP and the NDC to share their plans on addressing the pressing social sector issues in their party manifestos.
The manifesto titled “Towards a More Equitable Society: The Citizens Social Sector Manifesto 2024” was put together by SEND Ghana and its partners through active engagement of citizens mainly across the Southern and Northern zones which focuses on critical issues hindering equitable development and citizens access to essential services.
The dialogue had open discussions between representatives from the NPP and the NDC and citizens on issues around healthcare (NHIS), education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), gender and social protection, child protection and welfare, adolescent health rights.
Deputy General Secretary for the NDC, Mustapha Gbande spoke on how his government plans to tackle issues surrounding the National Health Insurance Scheme which is a social intervention program under government.
“National Health Insurance has collapsed under the NPP government, NHIS has always been a good policy and it will be made to function properly when we come to power”. “CHPS compound have been abandoned across the country, the NDC will continue these project to make healthcare delivery more accessible. We will introduce Women Bank policy to train women in the informal sector on how to save money, he said.
Speaking on the Common Fund and other interventions, the Deputy General Secretary for the NPP, Haruna Mohammed also shared the ideas on how his party will improve on these essential services.
“We are committed to ensure that government pays common fund on time to the local assemblies. we will assess the current statoscope of the NHIS premium service to inform on how to improve it, we are given access to about 15000 thousand nurses to be recruited and continue to pay allowances for nurses and teachers. we are the first political party that has promoted healthcare infrastructure since inception of the 4th republic”, he said.
SEND Ghana through this dialogue hopes the political parties manifesto will culminate into development policies that are more equitable and inclusive for all Ghanaians.
Over the years SEND Ghana has championed the fight for the rights and well¬-being of the ordinary as well as tackling issues with social protection, gender, mental health, and healthcare.
With just 155 days left to the 2024 general elections come 7th December, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and flagbearer Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are yet to launch their manifesto.
The National Democratic Congress and flagbearer former president John Dramani Mahama few days ago launched their Youth Manifesto aimed at improving the welfare of the Ghanaian youth.
By Samuel Baidoo
