Ghana has received strong international commendation for its child rights reforms after presenting its progress at a global child rights forum in Geneva, with participants praising the country’s policy frameworks and practical interventions.

Speaking at the forum, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Lartey, highlighted key initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and protection of children, particularly those in vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities. Among the reforms outlined were efforts to promote gender parity in education and the rollout of mobile birth registration services to ensure that every child is legally documented.

“We are deliberately targeting children who are often left out of mainstream services, especially those in remote areas,” she said, stressing that birth registration remains a critical gateway to accessing education, healthcare and social protection.

The Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, also addressed the forum, outlining Parliament’s role in strengthening oversight of shelters for vulnerable persons and protecting children from abuse and neglect.

She further spoke about measures to curb drug abuse among teenagers, noting that the decentralisation of the Narcotics Control Commission’s offices to district capitals is helping to bring services closer to communities.

“This approach makes it easier for families and young people to access support, counselling and intervention services before situations get out of hand,” she explained.

Ghana’s presentation drew applause from participants, many of whom commended the country for translating policy commitments into practical action on the ground.

The delegation, led by Minister Agnes Lartey, used the platform to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to upholding the rights, dignity and well-being of children, in line with international conventions and national development goals.

The Geneva forum brought together policymakers, child rights advocates and development partners from across the world to assess progress and share best practices in protecting children’s rights.