Book Chapter
Impact of COVID-19 on Employment and Earnings in Ghana

The first two cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ghana on 12 March 2020. As a first response, all public gatherings exceeding 25 people were banned until further notice. Following that, the country’s borders were closed. In the interest of public safety, a partial lockdown was introduced, which included the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Areas and contiguous districts. 

The decision to lift the partial lockdown was largely influenced by mounting concerns regarding the severe economic burden that the pandemic restrictions posed. Workers in the informal sector were particularly vulnerable to the crisis as they generally rely on daily sales for their earnings, have limited or no access to health care or social safety nets, lack mechanisms for collective bargaining, and tend to be in activities that are contact-intensive and, thus, particularly affected by the pandemic response measures.