The United Nations Country Team in Ghana significantly improved its programme implementation performance in 2025, increasing its delivery rate from 64 percent to 80 percent while investing more than $113 million in development interventions across the country.
According to the UN’s 2025 Annual Results Report, launched in Accra on June 17, the funding was deployed through 34 UN agencies working with 185 partners under seven joint programmes aimed at advancing Ghana’s development priorities.
The report highlights notable gains in poverty reduction, healthcare, education, governance, climate resilience and social inclusion, reflecting what UN officials describe as improved coordination and accountability within the UN system.
One of the report’s key findings was the reduction in multidimensional poverty, with nearly 950,000 people moving out of poverty between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025. Maternal mortality also declined from 310 to 234 deaths per 100,000 live births during the same period.
UN Resident Coordinator, Zia Choudhury, attributed the improved performance to stronger collaboration among agencies and a greater focus on results.
“We are improving our delivery rates because we are ready to deliver with greater discipline, greater reliability across the 34 agencies,” he said at the launch.
Mr. Choudhury noted that although the UN’s annual expenditure may appear modest compared to national spending levels, the resources are strategically targeted to achieve maximum impact.
“The UN’s annual envelope of over $113 million may not seem large compared to national infrastructure spending, but is managed with careful targeting, careful coordination, and careful accounting,” he stated.
Beyond economic and social interventions, the report highlighted the UN’s role in supporting peace and security initiatives. Despite ongoing challenges, including the displacement of approximately 34,000 people due to the Gbinyiri conflict and more than 150 deaths linked to the Bawku conflict, immigration patrol coverage was expanded from 12 kilometres to 22 kilometres to strengthen border management and security.
The report also recorded progress in digital inclusion and peacebuilding. More than 24,000 students received digital safety awareness training, while 54 journalists were trained in conflict-sensitive reporting. Peace campaigns reached an estimated 100,000 radio listeners and generated approximately 1.5 million online video views.
In the area of gender equality and disability inclusion, interventions implemented across all 16 regions contributed to reducing child marriage prevalence from 19 percent to 16.1 percent. A national disability data framework was also developed to support evidence-based policymaking.
On climate action, the UN reported that over 24,000 tonnes of organic waste were diverted from landfills and technical assistance was provided for the development of Ghana’s disaster risk financing strategy, including a parametric flood insurance scheme expected to protect nearly 4.9 million people.
Representing the Ministry of Finance, Coordinating Director of Operations David Klotey Collison described the results as evidence of the strong partnership between Ghana and the United Nations.
He noted that while government continues to strengthen fiscal policy, public investment and domestic revenue mobilisation, international cooperation remains essential to achieving sustainable development goals.
Mr. Collison further praised the UN’s contribution to social protection, climate resilience, economic transformation and peacebuilding, pledging continued collaboration to support Ghana’s long-term development agenda.
The report underscores the growing impact of UN-supported programmes in Ghana as the country seeks to build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy while addressing emerging social, economic and environmental challenges.
