Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 with the launch of the 2023 SDG Budget and Expenditure Report, a comprehensive document that tracks how government resources are being allocated to drive progress across health, education, social protection, and human capital development.
The report shows a significant rise in SDG-related spending from GH¢83 billion in 2022 to GH¢180 billion in 2023 representing one of the strongest financial commitments to the SDGs in the sub-region. Officials said this investment boost reflects government’s decision to integrate SDG financing into the national budgeting framework and ensure that development interventions are backed by real, measurable expenditures.
The launch earned Ghana high commendation from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which described the country’s SDG accountability system as one of the most advanced and transparent globally. Only a small number of countries, UNICEF noted, have adopted such a detailed tracking mechanism that links budget lines directly to SDG targets.
“There are very few countries that have been brave enough to take this step, to really have this kind of accountability tool in place,” said Ms. Paulina Sarvilahti, Chief of Social Policy and Inclusion at UNICEF Ghana. “It’s laudable that the Ministry of Finance is a frontrunner in this. Ghana’s data-driven approach provides a solid foundation for accelerated progress.”
She added that despite global challenges ranging from economic pressures to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana’s system for tracking whether resources reach the right beneficiaries positions the country for faster progress toward its targets. “Overall, it’s great that we have this strong commitment from the government and that there is really a strong push towards this,” she said.
The 2023 report includes child-specific indicators for the first time, a development UNICEF described as a critical milestone. According to UNICEF Country Representative Mr. Osama Makiawi Khogali, the inclusion strengthens Ghana’s ability to channel investments toward children, a demographic still facing worrying levels of deprivation. He noted that 73 percent of Ghanaian children experience multidimensional poverty, while 28 percent face monetary poverty.
“Ghana has made important progress, but we must be more targeted, more decisive,” he said. “As we observe World Children’s Day, this report reminds us that investing in children is investing in the nation’s long-term development.”
Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Isaac Fraikue, expressed strong confidence that Ghana will meet its SDG deadline. He said SDG tracking has now become deeply embedded in government operations, allowing policymakers to identify gaps and adopt timely corrective measures.
“We will definitely meet the targets by the time they are due because we are working so hard as a country,” he noted. “Developing this report is more than just tagging and tracking budgetary applications and associated expenditures. It tells the story of Ghana’s development journey, reflecting our resolve to ensure that no one is left behind whilst aligning our national priorities with a shared global vision for a better future.”
Mr. Fraikue hinted that the next phase of Ghana’s SDG financing strategy will focus on localising the SDG budget and expenditure reports, ensuring that districts and local authorities are better equipped to plan, track, and report SDG-related spending. He said deeper stakeholder engagement, stronger collaboration with development partners, and the use of real-time data will guide financial decision-making going forward.
UNICEF representatives and civil society organisations present at the launch urged government to intensify investment in social protection, education outcomes, and child nutrition while sustaining the transparent reporting mechanisms that have earned the country global recognition.