Which Way Forward? Covid-19, Social Policy and Emergency Preparedness in Ghana

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has provided a stern test of preparedness of states to respond to the unexpected and has forced a rethink of emergency and welfare systems previously thought unassailable. Ironically, nations that consider themselves to have the most robust systems have seen the most devastating impact. Most developing nations have been spared the worst, but not necessarily because they were better prepared or due to the existence of well functioning emergency response or welfare systems. This paper systematically analyses the responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and what they reveal about the state of social policy and emergency response preparedness in Ghana. Analyses show that the pandemic forced the state to impose several emergency measures including restrictions on social interactions, economic activities, movement, outright lockdowns, closure of businesses and educational institutions, which hit private educational institutions particularly hard. Many private school teachers went unpaid for several months, with no statutory provisions for income support. The situation also affected daily rate workers, commercial drivers, market women, and many self-employed persons who literally need to be at work each day in order to earn a living. The measures, therefore, led to very severe consequences for some, and it was a matter of risking death either by starvation at home or by contracting Covid-19 while seeking a means of survival. The paper concludes that Ghana lacks a well-organised, effective social support system that is capable of addressing human needs when they arise, and the Covid-19 pandemic presents a real opportunity to establish one to deal with present vulnerabilities and future emergencies.