Gender Minister Calls for Long-Term Investment in Child Protection
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey says sustainable funding and stronger partnerships are essential to tackling child labour exploitation beyond legislation.
- Minister calls for sustained funding.
- Says laws alone are insufficient.
- Stakeholders discuss child protection roadmap.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has called for sustained and predictable investment in Ghana’s child protection systems, stressing that legislation alone is not enough to eliminate child labour exploitation.
Delivering the keynote address at the National Justice Conference on the theme, “Sustainable Funding for Child Protection Against Labour Exploitation,” Dr. Lartey said protecting children requires long-term financing, strong partnerships, and a coordinated national effort involving all stakeholders.
The conference, organised by International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana, brought together government officials, the Judiciary, Parliament, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, and other stakeholders to discuss sustainable financing for child protection.
Dr. Lartey commended IJM Ghana and its partners for creating a platform to address child labour exploitation, describing child protection as a shared responsibility that demands collective action from government, communities, families, and development partners.
She noted that children who are subjected to labour exploitation are deprived of opportunities to develop their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Minister stressed that investment in child protection should be viewed not only as a social obligation but also as a strategic investment in Ghana’s human capital and future economic growth.
She further called for financing mechanisms that are predictable, well-coordinated, and efficiently managed to ensure child protection programmes deliver lasting results.
Participants at the conference discussed strategies for developing a sustainable financing roadmap aimed at strengthening child protection systems and combating child labour exploitation across the country.
