The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has called for sustained and predictable investment in child protection systems, stressing that addressing child labour exploitation requires more than legislation.

She said protecting children from exploitation demands long-term financing, effective partnerships and a collective national commitment involving all stakeholders.

Dr. Lartey made the call while delivering the keynote address at the National Justice Conference on the theme, **“Sustainable Funding for Child Protection Against Labour Exploitation.”

The conference was organised by International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana under its National Justice Conference initiative.

The Minister commended IJM Ghana and its partners for creating a platform to discuss one of Ghana’s critical child protection challenges, noting that safeguarding children remains a shared responsibility involving government, Parliament, the Judiciary, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, communities and families.

She emphasised that sustainable child protection requires coordinated action, reliable funding and a collective commitment to protecting the rights and wellbeing of every child.

Dr. Lartey noted that children subjected to labour exploitation are deprived of opportunities to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development.

She stressed that investment in child protection should be viewed not only as a social responsibility but also as a strategic investment in Ghana’s human capital and future prosperity.

The Gender Minister further called for financing mechanisms that are predictable, properly coordinated and efficiently managed to ensure child protection interventions achieve lasting impact. She explained that sustainable financing is not only about mobilising more resources but also about ensuring that available funds are strategically allocated.

The conference brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on developing a sustainable financing roadmap for child protection in Ghana, with emphasis on combating child exploitation and strengthening systems through improved funding mechanisms and partnerships.