Impact Evaluation of Early Childhood Development Programmes in Ghanaian Urban Areas: Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Outcomes, and Parental Satisfaction

Early childhood development (ECD) programmes are critical for fostering cognitive skills and socio-emotional competencies in children. In Ghanaian urban areas, such programmes have been implemented to support vulnerable populations. However, evidence on their effectiveness is limited. A comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted using electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they reported data from ECD programmes implemented in Ghanaian urban areas between and . The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.75) between the duration of participation in these programmes and improvements in children's cognitive scores, indicating that longer engagement leads to better outcomes. Parental satisfaction levels were reported as high, with an average score of 8.2 out of 10. The findings suggest that school-based ECD programmes can be effective tools for enhancing both the cognitive and socio-emotional development of children in Ghanaian urban areas, while also positively impacting parental perceptions. Future research should explore longitudinal impacts and examine variations by socioeconomic status. Additionally, interventions could consider incorporating parent education components to complement programme effectiveness. Early Childhood Development, Urban Settings, Cognitive Skills, Socio-Emotional Competencies, Parental Satisfaction