Create safe spaces for children to speak against abuse — Gender Ministry tells parents, teachers

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has called on parents, teachers, community and religious leaders, the media and child protection actors to create safe environments where children can speak about abuse without fear.

The Ministry said children must be able to express their concerns freely and have their complaints taken seriously to help strengthen child protection efforts in the country.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, made the call in a speech read on her behalf by the Acting Director of the Department of Children, Mr Sefah Alexander Boadu, at the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration in Accra.

The event was held at the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council premises on the theme: “Amplifying Children’s Voices on Abuse in Ghana: Promoting Child Protection, Participation, and Advocacy.”

Dr Lartey said creating safe spaces for children to speak was necessary to help identify and address cases of abuse.

She urged parents, teachers and other adults who interacted with children to listen to them and take their concerns seriously.

The Minister said the Children’s Voices Sessions organised across the regions had provided platforms for children to share their experiences and make recommendations on issues affecting their welfare.

She said the responsibility of stakeholders was to ensure that the concerns raised by children through such platforms contributed to stronger policies and programmes.

Dr Lartey reaffirmed Government’s position that every Ghanaian child deserved safety, dignity and protection, regardless of their age, background or circumstances.

She said child protection required the collective efforts of families, schools, communities, faith leaders, traditional leaders, institutions and Government.

The Minister also encouraged children who experienced abuse or felt unsafe to speak to a trusted adult and urged them not to give up if their concerns were not heard the first time, but to continue seeking help from responsible adults and institutions.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Madam Linda Obenewaa Ocloo, also called for stronger efforts to build communities where children could learn, play, grow and express themselves without fear.

She urged traditional and religious leaders to use their influence to promote child protection in their communities.

Madam Ocloo further called on law enforcement agencies, social workers, health professionals, civil society organisations and other child protection actors to strengthen collaboration in providing support to children in need.

She said protecting children required sustained action from all stakeholders and urged participants to turn the commitments made during the celebration into practical measures that would improve the safety and wellbeing of children.

The 2026 National Children’s Day celebration brought together stakeholders to promote child protection and participation, with emphasis on creating opportunities for children to speak about abuse and other concerns affecting them.