Multi-Dimensional Child Poverty in Ghana
The impact of social policies on child poverty in Ghana
Highlights
The purpose of this study is to understand the complexity of child poverty in Ghana by investigating children’s access to various goods and services crucial for their long-term development. The baseline for measuring target 1.2.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children, that is, the proportion of children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions will be calculated.
Moreover, the profile of the most vulnerable Ghanaian children will be drawn based on their different socio-economic, household and geographic characteristics to guide the next national development strategies and accordingly design suitable programmes and policies to address the specific needs of children.
Approximately three-in-four children (73.4 per cent) in Ghana are identified as multi-dimensionally poor, facing at least three deprivations at the same time. Very few children suffer from no deprivation (2.5 per cent) or one deprivation (8.3 per cent). According to SDG target 1.2.2, the aim is to reduce this multi-dimensional poverty rate by at least half by 2030 from 73.4 to 36.7 per cent. On average, multi-dimensionally poor children are deprived in 4.3 dimensions. Rural children show significantly higher multi-dimensional deprivation rates in comparison to urban children (81.5 versus 62.5 per cent, respectively).
Reducing child poverty of the most vulnerable children requires an integrated multi-sectoral approach through alignment, coordination and joint planning across the government.
