This study investigates effects public social sector spending on poverty reduction. Time
series data extracted from Ghana Living Standards Survey reports is used to assess the impact
of government‘s social expenditures on rural people who live below the national poverty line
before and after the implementation of pro-poor programs and projects between 1999 and
2013. The study found that government social spending has no statistically significant
relationship with poverty level. A field survey the study conducted also revealed that: the
various communities are not involved in pro-poor activities and agents of government propoor
activities are not accountable to the poor on whom the expenditure was made.
Nevertheless, the study is significant because it underscores the need for real and honest
commitment towards reducing rural poverty in Ghana. Also, the findings of the study are a
signal to governments to involve the poor in the entire life-cycle of the pro-poor initiatives,
and hold agents of pro-poor initiatives accountable both to the community and governments.
We believe that such measures are likely to increase the probability of the impact of pro-poor
initiatives trickling down to the really poor persons who need help.