The Government of the Republic of Ghana

Country: Republic of Ghana

Committee: Global Leaders

Agenda: Removing tangible barriers for children to escape poverty

POSITION PAPER
Child poverty is a pressing issue that needs to be demands urgent attention and action and
Ghana is committed to address child poverty in its borders. A child is the future of a nation and
no child should be neglected. A child should be provided with nutrition, love, care and
education around the world.

Many NGO’s and UN agencies are working towards ending child poverty. The Global Coalition
to End Child Poverty, chaired by UNICEF, has become a powerful initiative for raising awareness
about child poverty and accelerating global efforts to tackle it. SDG goals, which was adopted by
all UN member states includes SDG 1 which aims to get rid of poverty. Many organizations like
the world bank provide financial aid to developing countries for child education, healthcare and
more. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights of the child.
It emphasizes the significance of protecting children from poverty and ensuring their wellbeing.

Education is a vital tool to get rid of the vicious cycle of poverty. Recognizing this, Ghana has
taken many steps to ensure education for children, such as giving at least one hot meal to
students in primary school with the assistance of the world health food programme and the
Dutch government. Ghana also follows that gives free, compulsory and universal education till
the ninth grade.

The Republic of Ghana also provides social protection programmes aimed to reduce child
poverty such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program which provides
financial aid to low-income families in Ghana. The National Social Protection Policy through
embraces the establishment of sustainable mechanisms for the protection of people living in
conditions of extreme poverty and accompanying vulnerability and exclusion, it embraces a
strategic vision of an all-inclusive and socially empowered society.

Healthcare is also an important factor to get rid of child poverty Ghana has made considerable
progress in key health indicators over the past two decades. Between 2007 and 2017, under-five
mortality decreased by 37%, with pregnancy-related maternal mortality decreasing by 24%. The
Free Maternal Health Program provides pregnant women healthcare free of charge. The
National Health Insurance Scheme (NIHS) also provides Healthcare coverage to low-income
families in Ghana.

The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the UN,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana
 The Government of the Republic of Ghana
One of the best ways to enable children to completely develop and thrive is to invest in their
health and well-being through better healthcare and sanitation, nutrition, access to water,
education and social protection. Healthcare and Sanitation are a must for children as without
healthcare facilities children will not be treated and without proper sanitation more disease will
spread among children. Nutrition and Water are a necessity for life and without sufficient
nutrition a child cannot prosper. Education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty and
develop children. Social Protection programmes include cash transfers to vulnerable families, so
families can afford to take care of their children and provide them with an education. Child
Poverty is multi-faceted and without a proper plan of action will not be eradicated.

In Conclusion, Ghana looks forward to collaboration with other member states on removing
barriers for child poverty.

The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the UN,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana
The Government of the Republic of Ghana

The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the UN,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana