The government in 2023 spent an amount of GH¢188 billion in funding the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The amount is GH¢105 billion more than the GH¢83 billion spent on the SDGs in 2022.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, Patrick Nomo, who stated this during the launch of the 2023 SDG Budget and Expenditure Report, said the increased allocation demonstrated the government’s renewed commitment to accelerating progress towards the 2030 targets.
The report, done by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with its key partners, offers a comprehensive overview of achievements, challenges and proactive strategies put in place to address them.
Dr Nomo reiterated that government’s investment reflected its resolve to improve the lives of citizens across priority sectors.
The Chief Director explained that the country was performing strongly in areas such as education, health, gender, social protection and human capital development, adding that these sectors remained central to Ghana’s sustainable development trajectory.
He said the leap from GH¢83 billion in 2022 to GH¢188 billion in 2023 showed a “significant scaling-up of efforts” to meet the SDG targets.
“This demonstrates not only government’s commitment to the people, planet and prosperity, but also our determination to ensure that by 2030 Ghana plays its full part in achieving the SDGs,” he said.
Dr Nomo called on all development partners to intensify their support in the final stretch towards the SDG deadline, stressing the need to “leave no one behind.”
The Director of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Isaac Freikue, said the report provided a measurable account of how SDG targets were integrated into national planning and expenditure.
Aligning the country’s medium-term development objectives with the SDG framework, he said, had enabled systematic tracking of allocations, gaps and progress across ministries and local government structures.
He emphasised that the report went beyond accounting for expenditure, explaining that it “tells the story of Ghana’s development journey,” highlighting the country’s commitment to equity, transparency and inclusive growth.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Osama Makkawi Khogali, commended Ghana for its leadership in child rights and welcomed the inclusion of children-specific indicators in the report.
He stressed that investment in children was essential as they constituted nearly half of the population, adding that global crises continued to jeopardise gains made in reducing poverty and improving welfare.
The former Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Justice Bawole, praised Ghana’s performance on several SDG indicators but expressed concern over environmental challenges, particularly illegal mining, which he said undermined progress across many goals.
He encouraged the government to intensify efforts to combat environmental degradation while commending the Ministry of Finance for producing a report that highlights progress, challenges and the work ahead.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
