The project is being implemented in the Sisala West, Wa East and West Districts of the Upper West Region and the Ada East, Ashaiman Municipal, and Ayawaso East for the Greater Accra Region by SEND Ghana with funding from the Ford Foundation.

The project seeks to ensure that the national budget provides improve access and quality of services in priority programmes in the health and education sectors.  The purpose of the inception meeting and project launch is to present an overview of the project implementation approach as well as partnership arrangement to increase awareness and understanding among stakeholders.

  Mr George Osei-Bimpeh, the Country Director, SEND Ghana, said Ghana had experienced significant poverty reduction from 7.9 million in 1992 (56.5 per cent) to 6.3 million (29 per cent) in 2006 and 24.2 per cent in 2013.

      He said: "Inequality, however, has been increasing while poverty remains prevalent in many areas.

      "The highest level of inequality is registered in the Upper West Region and the largest increase since the 1990s".

      Mr Osei-Bimpeh who did not quote the source of the statistics, explained that considering consumption levels, the gap between the poorest 10 per cent and the richest 10 per cent of the population had been increasing since 2006 with the wealthiest docile consuming 6.8 times the amount than the poorest 10 per cent.

     Adding that the average consumption of the wealthiest group had increased by 27 per cent between 2006 and 2013 but for the poorest, it only increased by 19 per cent.

     "Moreover, the wealthiest 10 per cent consumed one third of all national consumption, whereas the poorest 10 per cent take just 1.7 per cent. Thus, some districts, communities and groups of people in Northern Ghana are missing out on recent economic growth," he said.

      Mr Osei-Bimpeh said in an attempt to address poverty and inequalities, the government had implemented several social protection programmes to support the most poor and marginalise groups.

     He said in recognition that economic growth and mainstream development interventions were enough to reduce poverty, address inequality and protect vulnerable citizens.

     "However, the implementation of key social protection programme is characterise by weak compliance with key laws, administrative procedures and programme design.

     "In addition, citizens involvement in the national budget process is minimal and thus limiting their say and how their needs should be met," he added.

     He said overall, these factors led to low levels of social protection budgetary allocations, transparency and accountability as well as equity.

     "As a result, the effectiveness of the budget to reduce poverty and inequality is being minimised by interrelated factors," he said.

      The Send Ghana Country Director said the budget planning and execution were inconsistent with the objectives to reduce poverty and inequalities.

      He stated that funds disbursements to support social protection programmes were irregular, unpredictable and inadequate.

      He said the government's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) was one of the key factors for addressing poverty.

      He urged pro-poor Civil Society Organisations to engage duty bearers to ensure that the poor is not left behind.

      Mr Bashiru Mohammed Jumah, the Programme Officer, SEND Ghana, in his presentation said the project team would engage consultants to undertake a project baseline study that would help in the finalisation of the Activity Monitoring.

     He said upon the completion of the baseline study, a baseline video documentary would be conducted to help in tracking progress at the end of the third year.

     Mrs Mary Arhin of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Ministry would collaborate with SEND Ghana to ensure the success of the project.