CSOs Urge NPP and NDC to Outline Concrete Manifesto Implementation Strategies.

Tamale: Two institutions have urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to develop actionable strategies for implementing their social intervention policies if they secure victory in the upcoming elections. The call was made by the Coalition of NGOs Against Streetism (CONAS) and the Street Invest Network-Northern Sector during a press briefing in Tamale.According to Ghana News Agency, the coalition comprises several organizations, including the Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA), the Centre for Community Initiatives Against Human Trafficking (CIATH), Sung Foundation, Youth Voices Initiatives Ghana (YOVI-Ghana), the African Development Organization for Migration (AFDOM), Chance for Children, Maltiti Child Foundation, and Northern Needy Child Foundation. The briefing was part of the Youth Engagement for Inclusive Democracy Project, spearheaded by CEDEPA and its partners.Mr. Alhassan Ziblim, a Research Fellow and Project Lead at CEDEPA, highlighted during the briefing that the need for clear sustainability plans had become clear after a thorough analysis of both parties' manifestos. The analysis sought to determine whether there were concrete plans in terms of funding and logistics to ensure the enduring implementation of their proposed policies.Mr. Ziblim noted that the NPP's manifesto included 10 social protection policies targeting the welfare of street-connected children. However, only three policies, representing 30%, had specific interventions or activities outlined to meet the policy objectives. The remaining 70% lacked sustainable activities necessary to achieve the policy goals. Additionally, only one of the policies was explicitly aligned with the mandate of a specific state institution or agency that could drive its implementation.Meanwhile, the NDC's manifesto featured 13 social protection policies aimed at improving the well-being of street-connected children. Of these, eight policies contained specific interventions to achieve the policy obje ctives. However, only three policies, representing 23%, were clearly aligned with the mandates of specific state institutions or agencies that could facilitate their implementation.Mr. Ziblim concluded by urging the Presidential Candidates of both the NPP and NDC to revisit and strengthen their manifesto policies on social protection for street children, ensuring that they include clear, sustainable implementation strategies.