A child-focused non-governmental organization, Challenging Heights, is asking the Gender Minister-designate to pay attention to the Social Welfare Department and the Human Traffic Secretariat by resourcing them to function well.

The organization says both institutions require more staff, more logistics, and improved working environment, in order to properly and effectively execute their mandate.

In a release signed by the CEO and President of the organization, James Kofi Annan, the NGO reiterated its call for the minister  to make a bold institutional demand, and a major policy shift, for the Child Labor Unit of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, to be brought under her Ministry (Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection), to ensure effective policy coordination and harmonization with all other children related issues.

James Kofi Annan is convinced that the Child Labour Unit is wrongly placed, and that is why it is not functioning effectively.

He said, “It is refreshing to note that the minister-designate, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, was already a part of the processes that led to the establishment of the just launched National Plan of Action to address Human Trafficking in Ghana. We hope that she will take the plan forward quickly and ensure full implementation.”

Challenging Heights also congratulated Lariba Zuweira Abudu, for her nomination as a substantive Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and her deputy, Francisca Oteng Mensah, for her nomination.

“Once again congratulations to Lariba Zuweira Abudu, and the Honorable Francisca Oteng Mensah, for your nominations.”

Lariba Zuweira Abudu has been nominated at a time when research shows that over 60% of all children living along Lake Volta are said to be in child labor (Challenging Heights, 2022).

He further indicated that, “We are in a time when the School Feeding Program is facing severe challenges, and there are several reports indicating worsening situations of teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and other children and social protection related issues.”