Ghana

Ghana’s Covid-19 experience and responses to the same are situated in a pre-existing macroeconomic structure of debt distress, high unemployment, and a high informal sector. In addition, geographical, gender and generational inequalities, and vulnerabilities determined how people experienced the pandemic. The chapter examined Ghana's Covid-19 responses with a particular focus on three social groups, namely Chorkor community residents and migrant head porters in Accra and market traders in Bolgatanga. The analysis highlights the ambivalences and ambiguities of Covid-19 measures and the implications and impacts for some of the most vulnerable social groups with little access to public services and social protection. The reflections on the findings show a weakness in social policy and unavailability of robust data on socioeconomic and social protection programmes to protect the vulnerable adequately. Tackling fallouts of (health) crises crucially depends on a robust political structure that distributes infrastructure, social services and resources equitably and transparently.