Governance and the Covid-19 Economic Recovery Strategies: A Comparative Study of Nigeria and Ghana, 2019-2025
Authors
School of General Studies, Thomas Mcgethrick Institute of Technology, Ogoja (Nigeria)
Article Information
DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100600590
Subject Category: Economy
Volume/Issue: 10/6 | Page No: 8438-8445
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2026-06-11
Accepted: 2026-06-16
Published: 2026-06-30
Abstract
Beyond the untold health challenges, the Covid-19 pandemic brought significant economic disruption, testing governance competency and resilience, especially among the developing economies. However, why studies have explored the socio-economic and health implications, as well as, government responses to the pandemic, the economic recovery strategy is not adequately represented in literature. Anchoring on the Welfare State theory and qualitative dominant approach, the study drew a comparative discussion between the Nigerian and Ghanaian Covid-19 economic recovery responses through fiscal and monetary changes. Thus, the paper presents both the similarities and differences on the stages and trajectory of social protection and economic recovery roadmap between the two West African democracies. The study found a high degree of social exclusion and inequality in the social protection and distribution of resources among the citizens of the two nations.
Keywords
Governance, Covid-19, Economic Recovery, Welfare State, Social Protection
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