NGOs call for commitment in providing essential social services

STORY: Hannah Annor

Accra, Ghana-Nov. 11, 2008 - International finance institutions and current world rade systems are undermining citizen's access to essential social services, a coalition of non-governmental organisations said on Tuesday.
The coalition dubbed: "Essential Services Platform" said, if the trend should continue, many poor countries, especially in Africa risked missing the Millennium Development Goals on health, education, water and sanitation.
Mr Alhassan Adams, a member of the National Coalition Against Privatisation of Water and also member of the Platform said at the launch of the Platform in Accra.
The Platform comprises NGOs working on health, education, water and sanitation that have come together to advocate for a change in unbridled trade liberalisation regimes affecting citizens from enjoying their economic and social rights.
Mr Adams mentioned the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as some of the regimes adding to the woes of the poor in accessing services.
On health, Mr Adams said, despite improvement in government expenditure to the sector, access to quality health care continued to elude majority of Ghanaians, whilst life expectancy had also stagnated between 57, 42 years in 2000 to 56 years from 2005.
He indicated that infant mortality rates have also not seen any significant change in recent years.
Mr Adams further expressed disappointment on access to basic education despite government's interventions such as the School Feeding Programme and the Capitation Grant.
He therefore urged all Ghanaians and other civil society groups to join the Platform in order to hold policy makers accountable to respect the economic and social rights of all persons.
The Platform further pledged to periodically review its performance and remain focus in the advocacy campaign to effect the desired change.