Agnes Naa Momo Lartey
Parliament yesterday passed the Social Protection Bill, 2025, after its third reading – despite opposition from the Minority over quorum concerns raised during proceedings the previous day.
The Minority, led by First Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu, objected to the approval of the bill during Wednesday’s session, arguing that the House lacked the constitutionally mandated quorum to take such a critical decision.
“The House does not meet the quorum threshold as required under Article 102 and 104 of the Constitution. We cannot proceed with a vote,” he asserted, urging the presiding Speaker to suspend the process.
However, the Second Deputy Majority Whip, Richard Acheampong, dismissed the Minority’s concerns as baseless, and described their objection as “unfair” and an attempt to delay a bill that had already gone through the necessary legislative stages.
Following the disagreement, the House adjourned proceedings on the motion, which was reintroduced on Thursday. With no further objections, the bill was subsequently passed.
Laid before Parliament on Monday, July 28, 2025 by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Social Protection Bill seeks to provide a comprehensive legal framework for delivering social protection services across the country.
It also establishes a Social Protection Fund to finance emergency interventions and sustain critical programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable populations.
Programmes set to benefit from the Fund include the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Ghana School Feeding Programme, Basic Education Capitation Grants, and National Health Insurance exemptions.
Beyond funding, the bill aims to enhance accessibility, coordination, and fairness in delivering social services, ensuring that all Ghanaians – especially the chronically poor and socially excluded – receive adequate support. It also formalises institutional roles and responsibilities at both national and sub-national levels.
According to the Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare, which reviewed the bill, the legislation aligns with Chapter Six of the 1992 Constitution, which enjoins the state to promote the welfare and livelihood of its people. The bill also fulfils the country’s international obligations under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Social Policy Framework.
Until now, the country’s social protection programmes, such as the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, National Social Protection Strategy (2007), Labour-Intensive Public Works Programme, and others, have operated without binding legal backing. This has often led to inconsistencies and gaps in their implementation.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House