The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have announced plans to deepen their partnership to address emerging child protection challenges, with a particular focus on online abuse and child safety in digital spaces.
During a courtesy visit, UNICEF Representative to Ghana Andy Brooks met with Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey to discuss areas of mutual interest and opportunities for closer collaboration.
Mr Brooks highlighted the need for stronger technical cooperation between the two institutions to respond to emerging threats, including violence against women and children and the growing risks children face online. He praised Ghana’s political commitment to child protection and social protection, noting that these priorities are reflected in the national development agenda.
Dr Lartey underscored the importance of appropriate measures to protect children as their access to social media and other digital platforms expands. She stressed that safeguarding children online must balance protection from harm with the educational and developmental benefits of technology.
The minister also called for stronger collaboration to improve social service delivery at the decentralized level, particularly through better coordination between the Ministry and local government structures. She said this would help ensure that social welfare interventions and child protection services reach communities effectively, especially those requiring greater support.
On early childhood care and development (ECCD), Dr Lartey emphasized the need to integrate early childhood development more firmly into Ghana’s education system to ensure adequate attention to early learning and care.
The discussions also explored joint advocacy and high‑level engagements to advance children’s rights, including the possibility of Ghana hosting the 2027 launch of the African Union‑UNICEF publication, State of Africa’s Children, during the country’s presidency of the African Union.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership through technical cooperation, policy engagement and coordinated interventions in child protection, gender equality and social protection.
