Report by Sualah Abdul-wahab
A new report by ActionAid reveals a growing crisis in Ghana’s public sector, where severe budget cuts are placing unprecedented strain on education and health services—leaving workers overwhelmed and communities underserved.
Titled “The Human Cost of Public Cuts in Africa”, the report highlights austerity measures across six African countries, with data from Ghana painting a bleak picture of overstretched teachers, underpaid health workers, rising user costs, and crumbling service infrastructure. The study is based on surveys and focus group discussions with 616 individuals across rural and urban areas in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, and Nigeria.
A statement issued by ActionAid Ghana said findings in Ghana exposed deteriorating working conditions and underfunded services that undermine access to quality education and healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations.
The report revealed a 30% increase in public school enrolment over the last 3–5 years in Ghana. This surge has led to overloaded classrooms, with 48% of teachers reporting heavier workloads. Alarmingly, 100% of teachers surveyed said their working conditions had deteriorated, with larger class sizes and increased responsibilities.
Additionally, the report found that 40% of school budget cuts since 2020 have led to depleted book supplies and a shortage of school furniture. In many cases, parents are now required to pay for chairs, tables, and even school renovations.
Closely tied to this crisis is the issue of hunger in schools. Hunger is reportedly rampant among schoolchildren, with only a few kindergartens offering meals—affecting students’ concentration and ability to learn.
In the healthcare sector, 90% of health workers reported a sharp rise in the cost of medicine and treatment, a trend echoed by communities, which have seen prices for doctor visits and diagnostic tests quadruple over the last five years. Furthermore, all health workers surveyed in Ghana said their pay is now inadequate to meet basic living needs.
The report also uncovered a growing mental health emergency, with 90% of Ghanaian health workers experiencing severe stress due to financial pressures and heavy workloads.
“This report lays bare the human cost of austerity. Our teachers teach in overcrowded classrooms without books, and our nurses are struggling to survive on wages that don’t even cover food. These are the people holding our country together, and they are being pushed to the brink. Ghana cannot build a resilient and equitable future while starving public services of resources. We need urgent action to reverse budget cuts, invest in frontline workers, and protect the rights of our people,” said John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana.
ActionAid Ghana is urging the Government of Ghana to reverse harmful budget cuts in education and health, ensure fair and livable wages for teachers and health workers, and expand school feeding programmes while eliminating hidden user costs in public schools. The organization also calls for mental health support and reduced workloads for frontline health workers.
Furthermore, ActionAid Ghana is advocating for the rejection of austerity measures imposed by international financial institutions that undermine public service delivery.
The Human Cost of Public Sector Cuts in Africa is based on research conducted in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, and Nigeria. The study engaged 296 teachers and health workers, and 320 service users, through interviews and focus groups—documenting the real-life impact of public spending cuts on people’s lives and rights.
ActionAid Ghana (AAG) is a registered non-governmental organization and part of a global movement committed to promoting human rights and fighting poverty in over 45 countries.
