Govt Reaffirms Commitment To Strengthen Child Protection System

Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (M) with participants

 

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Ghana’s child protection system through sustainable financing and stronger partnerships.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said this when she addressed participants at the 2026 National Justice Conference in Accra.

She said government remained committed to building a child protection system that protects every child from labour exploitation and guarantees their rights, safety and well-being.

Dr. Lartey noted that sustainable financing is essential to ensuring effective child protection, adding that without adequate and reliable investment, even the strongest policies, legal frameworks, and institutional arrangements cannot deliver their full impact.

The minister also called for a coordinated financing approach involving government, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities to strengthen child protection systems across the country.

She, however, added that investing in child protection was not merely a social obligation but an investment in human capital, economic productivity, social cohesion, and Ghana’s future development.

According to her, these complementary investments, if coordinated well, will be able to respond to emerging challenges.

“Protecting children is not the responsibility of any single institution. It is a shared national responsibility that requires sustained commitment from government, Parliament, the judiciary, development partners, civil society, the private sector, communities, families, and every citizen.

“Together, through partnership, innovation, and sustained investment, we can create a Ghana where every child is safe, every child’s rights are protected, and every child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential,” she added.

Dr. Lartey further acknowledged the contributions of development partners, including the International Justice Mission (IJM), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), for their support which has continued to strengthen the country’s response to child labour exploitation.

Prof.  Lord Mensah, Head of Local Government Service, also described child labour not only as a social concern but as a governance, development and moral issue that demands collective action.

He urged local authorities to work closely with social welfare, education and law enforcement agencies to mobilise resources in order effectively monitor child protection policies in various communities.

He also called on district assemblies to allocate dedicated funds for child protection programmes, to reduce dependence on donor support.

“Every child deserves a chance to dream, to learn and to thrive. It is our collective duty to ensure that no child is robbed of that future through exploitation,” he said.

The conference, held under the theme “Sustainable Funding for Child Protection Against Labour Exploitation,” organised by the International Justice Mission,  brought together policymakers, development partners, civil society organisations, child protection advocates, representatives of the security agencies, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.

By Ebenezer K. Amponsah

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