The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through the Central Adoption Authority (CAA), has convened a stakeholders’ engagement meeting aimed at improving coordination, collaboration and efficiency within Ghana’s adoption process.

In a post shared on Facebook by the ministry, the meeting brought together key institutions and practitioners involved in adoption procedures as part of efforts to streamline processes, reduce delays and enhance safeguards for children in need of permanent family care.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, underscored the government’s strategic commitment to strengthening adoption systems across the country.

She stressed the importance of ensuring full compliance with both national and international legal frameworks while prioritising the welfare and best interests of children.

Dr Lartey described adoption as a critical child protection intervention that must be guided by the highest standards of care, integrity and professionalism.

She noted that effective stakeholder collaboration is essential to building a responsive and transparent adoption system.

“Adoption must always place the best interests of the child at the centre of every decision,” the minister emphasised, adding that the government remains committed to reinforcing structures that guarantee safe, permanent and loving family environments for vulnerable children.

She reaffirmed plans to strengthen the capacity of frontline officers, improve accountability and transparency within the adoption framework, and enhance institutional coordination nationwide.

The minister further encouraged stakeholders to renew their collective responsibility to ensure that every child in Ghana has the opportunity to grow up in a stable and nurturing home.

As part of the engagement, participants received a detailed presentation outlining the specific roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders within the adoption ecosystem.

This was followed by a panel discussion on the theme: “Building Effective Collaboration to Reduce Delays in the Adoption Process”.

The session provided an opportunity for institutions to share experiences, identify operational challenges and propose practical solutions to expedite procedures while maintaining strict safeguards.

The event also featured a cultural performance by kids from the Osu Children’s Home, highlighting the human dimension of adoption and reinforcing the importance of the initiative.

In her closing remarks, the Chief Director of MoGCSP and Chairperson of the Central Adoption Board, Dr Afisah Zakariah, commended participants for their active engagement and constructive contributions.

She emphasised the need for sustained collaboration, strict adherence to established procedures and a shared commitment to strengthening Ghana’s adoption systems.

Dr Zakariah reiterated that protecting the best interests of every child must remain the guiding principle in all adoption-related decisions and processes.