Up to 80 per cent of children in Ghana aged four years and below are living in multidimensional poverty, making them the most vulnerable age group in the country, according to a new report launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The findings are contained in the Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Ghana, a report produced by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and its partners with support from UNICEF.
The report paints a troubling picture of child welfare in Ghana, revealing that nearly three out of every four children experience multiple forms of deprivation, while an overwhelming 97.5 per cent are deprived in at least one essential service, including health care, education, nutrition, sanitation, or protection.
According to the analysis, children in their earliest years face the highest levels of multidimensional poverty, highlighting the urgent need for increased investment in early childhood development.
The report notes that despite progress in expanding access to basic services, public spending in critical sectors such as health, education and social protection remains below internationally recommended benchmarks.
Researchers warned that inadequate investment in children’s early years could have long-term consequences for national development, stressing that targeted interventions in nutrition, healthcare, early childhood education and child protection are essential to breaking cycles of poverty and inequality.
The findings were presented during an event organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) to commemorate the 2026 Day of the African Child in Accra on Monday.
Observed annually on June 16, the Day of the African Child honours the memory of the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa, where thousands of schoolchildren protested against poor-quality education and unequal learning opportunities.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme, “Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for Every Child,” drawing attention to the need for improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services for children across Africa.
The event also marked the launch of two UNICEF-supported reports, Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in Ghana and Assessing Public Spending by Age in Ghana, both aimed at informing policy decisions and improving outcomes for children and young people.
Among the dignitaries present were UNICEF Acting Representative, Pauline Sarvilahti; Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah; Director of the Learning for Well-being Institute, Dominic Richardson; Acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ebenezer Charway; and Policy Advisor at the Office of the Vice-President, Miriam Iddrisu.
Speaking on the report’s findings, NDPC Principal Analyst, Nii Odoi Odotei, highlighted what he described as alarming levels of child deprivation across the country.
He stressed that the high prevalence of multidimensional poverty among children, particularly those under five years, should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and development partners to prioritise investments in programmes that improve children’s welfare and development outcomes.
The report concludes that strengthening investments in early childhood development will be crucial to reducing poverty, improving educational attainment, enhancing health outcomes and ensuring that future generations of Ghanaian children have greater opportunities to thrive.
