Introduction to the Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA)

The Centre for Budget Advocacy (CBA) is a program operated by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in Ghana. ISODEC engages in various advocacy efforts to enhance the lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians. As part of ISODEC’s Social Justice and Rights Programme, the CBA focuses on analyzing how national and local budgets impact the human rights of Ghanaians, especially the poor and vulnerable. The CBA seeks to influence budget allocations to benefit disadvantaged groups in the country, advocating for access to essential needs such as food, shelter, potable water, education, and healthcare as fundamental rights.

A Human Rights Framework for Budget Analysis

To assess budgets through a human rights lens, the CBA first identifies the rights that the state has committed to protecting. Within this framework, it scrutinizes national and local budgets, offering recommendations on how resources should be allocated to better meet human rights commitments. These recommendations aim to influence budget priorities and economic policies to ensure fairer resource distribution.

Building Support for Budget Proposals

The CBA works to gather support for its recommendations from two primary groups:

1. Civil Society Organizations and NGOs – representing the interests of the poor and vulnerable.
2. Policymakers – including public officials, elected representatives, and international financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Through workshops and training sessions, CBA staff provide education on budget analysis and advocate for integrating budget activism into wider advocacy work. They also leverage the media to engage the public, participating in debates, radio call-ins, newspaper commentaries, and public forums. Additionally, the CBA networks with other NGOs, hosting workshops on economic policy and forming coalitions to strengthen advocacy efforts.

Empowering Citizens and Influencing Policymakers

The CBA aims to empower Ghanaians by informing them of their rights to participate in decision-making processes and demand fair resource distribution. For policymakers, both national and international, the CBA advocates for budget allocations that prioritize deprived and marginalized citizens. The organization emphasizes that sectors providing essential services—such as education, health, and potable water—should receive increased resources to support these communities.

Positive Responses and Ongoing Challenges

The CBA’s efforts have generally received positive responses. Members of Parliament and other government representatives have shown interest in the CBA’s budget analyses, often inviting CBA staff to participate in public forums and workshops. The CBA has also developed a strong relationship with the World Bank, which has furthered its advocacy goals.

However, positive feedback from policymakers does not always translate into policy changes. Additionally, engaging Ghanaians in these budget discussions remains challenging due to high illiteracy rates and limited public involvement in government issues. The technical nature of budgets and economic issues also creates a barrier for citizen participation. Despite these challenges, the CBA has laid essential groundwork for future human rights impacts in Ghana.