By D.I. Laary, GNA
Wa, Oct 30, GNA – The Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) has held an interactive session with journalists in the Upper West Region on gender-responsive budgeting which seeks to integrate gender dimensions into policy interventions and programmes.
The five-hour session was dominated by editors from the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) as well as the private media including TV3 Network, Citi News Room and Radio Progress among others.
The journalists were urged to pose relevant questions and explore gaps in policy interventions that alienate vulnerable groups to ensure inclusive economic growth and development that cut down abject poverty to significant levels.
Mr Ibrahim Akalbila, GTLC Coordinator, said though Ghana’s economy was growing steadily with various sectors receiving significant boost, little attention was being paid to vulnerable groups like women and persons with disabilities.
« We are growing out poverty but we are leaving large groups of people behind, and that is not good, » he said.
He quoted an ongoing baseline research by the Coalition that show more educated women farmers were into agriculture but their specific needs had not been mainstreamed in government’s poverty reduction intervention programmes like Planting for Food and Jobs.
« Planting for Food and Jobs policy document, for example, does not clarify how it is going to benefit women and other vulnerable groups, » he said: « Government policies are doing well but there are some areas we need to put in more resources ».
« Our [GTLC] objective is to assess the impact of government policies and policy interventions, so together we can work towards a comprehensive development agenda. »
Mr Akalbila said the impact of government policy intervention programmes and activities towards the country’s economic transformation agenda should be highlighted to include vulnerable groups.
He urged policymakers to make national budget gender-responsive particularly in the agricultural sector and direct more investments to empower women and other vulnerable groups.
Radio Progress Assistant Head, Ms Mavis Okyere told the GNA the working session was an « eye opener because we don’t usually take note of various interventions on gender perspective ».
She added that giving the fact that women make about 51 per cent of Ghana’s population, breaking down the national budget and allocating significant portions to the sectors where women dominate would boost their economic fortunes and trigger faster growth.
It’s expected that gender-responsive budgeting would lead to analysis of different impacts of national and local expenditure as well as revenue policy on women and girls, and on men and boys.
Journalists would also explore the subject matter to report appropriately to help bring the needed investments and change for gender equality and equity.
Caption: Picture of participants
GNA