The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has joined the world in celebrating the 2025 World Children’s Day with a renewed call on Ghanaians to prioritise investment in the country’s youngest citizens.
The national commemoration, held in Accra, was themed “My Day, My Right: Investing in Early Childhood, a National Priority” and coincided with the 7th Sitting of the National Children’s Parliament.
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Child parliamentarians drawn from selected schools across the country used the platform to adopt the Revised Early Childhood and Development (ECCD) Policy after deliberating on its provisions and expected impact.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, stressed that safeguarding the rights of children was a shared responsibility.
“It is therefore imperative for us to come together to ensure that children get it right from the beginning of their lives and it will lead to a better future for Ghana,” she said.
She underscored that early childhood development must be treated as a national priority, describing it as a pathway to building a stronger, more equitable and prosperous society.
Citing available evidence, Dr Naa Momo Lartey noted that ECCD remained one of the most cost-effective strategies for breaking inter-generational poverty and driving sustainable economic growth, with high returns on investment.
“I know Ghana does not want to miss out on these assured benefits,” she added.
The Minister revealed that the ministry, with support from UNICEF, is developing a national parenting strategy designed to strengthen areas such as breastfeeding promotion, nutrition education, food safety, healthcare access, public awareness, and support for early childhood educators.
She said the revised ECCD policy offers a holistic, integrated framework that incorporates care, stimulation, health, nutrition, and safety while recognising the full developmental needs of children aged 0 to 8 years.
She commended the child parliamentarians for engaging with the policy as part of their 7th session.
Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakariah, urged families, educators, and partners to align their efforts with both the theme and the policy to ensure that every child grows in an environment where their voices are valued, their rights protected, and their potential fully supported.
She added that when children’s rights are respected, their early years are well nurtured, contributing to the building of a stronger, more just and prosperous nation.
