Gender Minister outlines plans to promote women, children’s wellbeing

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed her commitment to promoting the wellbeing of women and children across the country to impact national development.

Outlining bold initiatives including advancing women and children’s rights, commitment to gender equality, child protection and social welfare issues to reducing vulnerabilities to the barest minimum, the Minister called for multistakeholder support to achieving that.

She gave the assurance when she engaged some female journalists from selected media houses in Accra last Thursday.

The meeting was to strengthen media collaboration in amplifying women’s voices in the country while addressing challenges facing women and children in line with realising the Minister’s vision for the sector.

Underscoring the pivotal role, journalists play in shaping public perception and influencing policy advocacy, Dr Lartey said the media had the responsibility to push for a better ecosystem for Ghanaian women and children to thrive.

“I recognise the critical role women play in shaping public discourse but when it comes to women’s issues or gender, it is important to look out for those who can make the voices of women well articulated on issues so that together, we  can build the Ghana  we want to see which is why this meeting is important,” she explained.

The Minister indicated that as a matter of priority, the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act passed by parliament last year would be accelerated within her first 120 days in office.

She disclosed plans to also push for the Social Protection (SP) Bill to enhance Ghana’s social protection framework, offering stronger support to vulnerable populations.

Dr Lartey announced plans to decentralise the School Feeding Programme, increasing the current grant from GH₵1.50 to 2.00, to improve the quality of food given to children.

“We will ensure that if you cannot feed it to yourself or your children, you don’t feed it to others,” she emphasised.

Furthermore, Dr Lartey pointed out an intended partnership with other agencies and sector ministries to improve the economic empowerment of women as well as persons living with disability in the country.

In the area of gender-based violence, the Minister called for amendments to the Domestic Violence Act to enhance its effectiveness, announced plans also to establish shelters across all 16 regions of the country to provide safety and protection for survivors of abuse.

Veteran journalist and Chairperson of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), Ghana Chapter, Dr. Charity Binka, on behalf the journalists, congratulated the Minister on her appointment, pledging the unwavering support of colleagues to her and the Ministry in championing gender equality and social protection in Ghana.

By Abigail Annoh