Ghana COVID-19 Recovery Plan and Integrated Assembly Financing Framework launched

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and support from five Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have launched a COVID-19 Recovery Plan and Integrated Assembly Financing Framework in Accra.

The purpose is to build back better from the impact of COVID-19 and build resilience against local and external shocks.

The development of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan and the Integrated Assembly Financing Framework falls in line with the objectives of the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) programme.

In this regard, the government initiated the GHs 100 billion comprehensive programme under Ghana CARES to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and return the country to a sustained path of robust growth.
The Director-General of the NDPC, Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa in his response to COVID-19 impact said the path created by the initiative is to ensure that no one is left behind in the journey towards creating opportunities and prosperity for all Ghanaians.

“We have also placed the COVID-19 plans as part of the sustainable endeavour created by the Ghana CARES (Obaatanpa) programme,” he stated.

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He said the Integrated Assembly Financing Frameworks (IAFFs) provide concrete measures for mobilizing the financing required to achieve the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The frameworks’ strategies comprise consolidating existing revenues, philanthropic financing, diaspora financing and private-public-partnerships, among others.

Therefore, the bottom-up approach to delivering the Integrated National Financing Frameworks targets directly citizens at the local level of governance and put SDGs at the heart of local government financing.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, Angela Lusigi said her outfit including the UN System in Ghana is committed to bringing collective resources and expertise to support Ghana’s efforts towards SDG attainment at all levels.

“With thanks to the UN Joint SDG Fund and contributing partners, we are helping to accelerate SDG progress and COVID-19 recovery through integrated national financing frameworks,” she noted.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu, Iddrisu Mariam, on her part said recovery plans are critical for us at the assemblies to boost the local economy, recover from the impact of the pandemic and build resilience, adding that “We remain committed to ensuring effective implementation, accountability, and sustainability,”.

The COVID-19 Recovery Plan is guided by the national recovery framework and based on four pillars, including local economy, people, infrastructure, and governance.

The development of the IAFFs is part of Ghana’s efforts to lead in the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development.

Over Ghc181 million is estimated for the implementation of the recovery strategies and the sources of funds will include internally generated revenue, district assemblies’ common funds, public-private partnership arrangements, and donor support.

The implementation of the plans is expected to speed up the COVID-19 recovery process and accelerate progress towards SDGs attainment, and ultimately build a Wealthy, Inclusive, Sustainable, Empowered, and Resilient Ghana (a W.I.S.E.R Ghana).

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on countries throughout the world, including Ghana.

According to Ghana’s COVID-19 Local Economies Tracker survey results released by the Ghana Statistical Service in partnership with the UNDP, the pandemic has had both economic and social effects on local communities, resulting in an increase in crime, domestic violence, high prices, and low business productivity.

To facilitate recovery from the pandemic and transform the structure of the local economy to make it more robust and resilient, the NDPC, MoF, and UNDP, with active participation and collaboration of all key stakeholders particularly at the local levels, supported the five pilot districts to develop the COVID-19 Recovery Plans and the Integrated Assembly Financing Frameworks (IFFs).

Assemblies that participated include the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly, Ketu South Municipal Assembly, Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly and Kassena Nankana West District Assembly, representing the Ashanti, Northern, Volta, Western North and Upper East regions of Ghana, respectively.

By Eric Nii Sackey