Ghanaian political perspectives on Universal Basic Income as a poverty reduction strategy

Universal basic income (UBI) is an unconditional and usually monthly cash transfer normally paid by the state to every citizen with no eligibility requirements. It was supported by the United Nations as a temporary remedy for 2.7 billion of the world’s poorest people during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is often viewed as a response to upheavals such as pandemics and economic crises. It has been piloted in many countries worldwide. It is often discussed as an anti-poverty strategy and a remedy for the inadequacies of welfare provision. Increasingly, it is being viewed as a remedy for job losses resulting from automation. We conducted a survey with 129 (46 per cent) Ghanaian parliamentarians and nine qualitative interviews with political activists. The results show growing interest in UBI as an anti-poverty strategy, but also concerns about cost and the state’s ability to deliver UBI fairly. The article contributes to the extensive global literature on UBI and addresses the gap in the literature specifically on UBI in Africa. We conclude by making recommendations for Ghana’s next steps regarding UBI.