Coordinated action vital to closing gaps for Ghanaian girls – Gender Minister

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa MoMo Lartey, has observed that the best way Ghana can address gender inequality in development is through a collaborative approach by key stakeholders.

In remarks delivered on her behalf during the launch of the Education Plus Initiative in Accra on Wednesday, she emphasized the need for renewed, unified national action.

She outlined the ministry’s ongoing work to safeguard the well-being of girls across the country. She pointed to a wide range of policies and programmes designed to protect children and strengthen community support structures.

Without previewing her remarks, she later stated that the ministry has pursued measures “that safeguard the rights of girls from measures to prevent child marriage and support adolescent mothers to strengthening gender-based violence response services and expanding community-based child protection systems.”

She added that the motivation behind these interventions reflects a core national belief. As she put it, such commitments flow from a conviction “that the future of our nation depends on the safety, dignity and opportunities available to our children, especially our girls.”

Dr. Lartey stressed that, despite progress, the country is continually reminded that “many girls continue to face layered vulnerabilities,” a reality that undermines their development and long-term prospects.

She explained that these challenges have practical consequences in homes, schools, and communities, contributing to absenteeism, school dropouts, and health risks. She noted that these pressures also shape wider public health concerns, with “increased rates of HIV, which affects adolescent girls and young women disproportionately in Ghana.”

In her view, this is where the Education Plus Initiative offers significant added value.

Referencing the national framework being launched, she said the roadmap provides “targeted, practical and coordinated interventions that reinforce the Ministry’s efforts from keeping girls in school and strengthening protection systems to expanding access to essential services, promoting gender equality and ensuring sustainable support mechanisms.”

Dr. Lartey emphasised that the initiative’s structure gives institutions a platform to align their actions, noting that its pillars “create a clearer pathway for agencies, ministries and communities to work in sync rather than in silos.”

She urged stakeholders to maintain focus and energy following the launch, committing the ministry to deeper collaboration with partners to address persistent barriers.

According to her, the ministry will continue working to remove obstacles that limit school participation, broaden social protection and ensure that “every girl is able to learn, grow and transition into adulthood with confidence and security.”

Dr. Lartey reminded attendees of the broader national implications of their work, stating that “a nation’s future is shaped by the opportunities it gives to its young people,” and urging that the launch be viewed as a decisive step toward expanding those opportunities for girls across Ghana.