New evidence on children’s lives and public investment was launched during the 2026 Day of the African Child in Ghana. The event brought together government representattives, researchers, development partners and children to discusshow evidence can help shape stronger policies and improve outcomes for children across the country.
Organised by UNICEF Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the event included presentations of new findings, contributions from children and an intergenerational dialogue on the priorities emerging from the evidence.
The evidence launched included Unlocking Potential Early: Rebalancing Public Spending for Children in Ghana, a UNICEF policy brief drawing on research conducted by the Learning for Well-being Institute. The underlying study presents Ghana’s first age-based analysis of public spending on children, examining how resources are distributed from the prenatal period through adolescence and how patterns differ by household income and place of residence.
The findings show that public investment remains concentrated in later childhood, with younger children and those in poorer households receiving significantly less support. The policy brief identifies practical pathways to earlier, more equitable and more balanced investment across health, nutrition, childcare, education, social protection and family support.
Participants included UNICEF Acting Representative Pauline Sarvilahti; Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Rita Naa Odoley Sowah; Learning for Well-being Institute Managing Director Dominic Richardson; Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection Ebenezer Charway; and Miriam Iddrisu, Policy Advisor at the Office of the Vice-President.
The launch formed part of a wider programme of engagement with government institutions, journalists and development partners, aimed at bringing the evidence into ongoing policy and public-finance discussions.
Photo credit: UNICEF/Noorani/2024
