By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
Cape Coast, Aug 25, GNA – The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) has said the number of residents living in extreme poverty in the area was projected to rise by about 9.09 percent, from 2,750 in 2021 to 3,500 by 2033 if stringent measures were not taken.
According to statistics in the Metropolis’ Eight Year Development Plan cited by the Ghana News Agency, nearly 3,700 people in the Metropolis were earning GHC 23.76 (US$2.15) per day in 2021 and that figure was projected to increase to more than 6,000 by 2033 if prevailing trends continued.
While Cape Coast recorded the lowest incidence and depth of poverty in the Central Region, it registered a 12.9 percent poverty incidence and a 44.3 percent poverty depth.
The Metropolis ranked 43rd out of 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies on the Multidimensional Household Poverty index and placed second regionally among 22 districts.
Using National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) national urban and rural poverty rates of 7.8 percent and 3.9 percent respectively, the report estimated about 1,500 urban poor people in Cape Coast in 2021.
It further warned that the number was expected to rise further by 2033 unless urgent interventions were implemented.
On child protection and child poverty, the Metropolis’ plan estimated that more than 4,300 children lived in multidimensional poverty, citing NDPC‑based calculations.
It also documented incidences of child abuse and exploitation, including trafficking, neglect and child labour.
The plan highlighted juvenile welfare challenges, noting a rise in single‑mother households in coastal communities, attributing it to the itinerant nature of fishing livelihoods.
The Plan identified several socio‑economic constraints facing the Metropolis, including inadequate modern infrastructure, low mechanisation in agriculture, limited access to credit and poor transport terminals and landing sites.
It also cited high youth unemployment and weak tourism development as major concerns with several community welfare and maintenance facilities reportedly neglected and residents contending with inadequate, erratic water supply.
The plan further noted insufficient health infrastructure and the ongoing risk of communicable disease outbreaks.
It underscored the Metropolis’ socio‑economic vulnerabilities and called for targeted interventions to address the anticipated rise in extreme poverty over the plan period.
However, Mr George Justice Arthur, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, appealed for broad-based support during an earlier fundraising event for the Plan, urging residents, businesses, and civil society to join hands in financing projects that would improve infrastructure and social services.
He highlighted the Plan’s priority areas as healthcare upgrades, road repairs and youth skills training and called on private sector partners to invest in sustainable initiatives that created jobs.
Mr Arthur also thanked past contributors, promised transparent use of funds and encouraged ongoing community engagement to ensure the Plan met local needs.
The CCMA urged stakeholders, development partners and the citizenry to collaborate and help the implementation of programmes that would build resilience, expand livelihood opportunities and strengthen social protection mechanisms to reverse the upward trend.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Isaac Arkoh
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]
