Ghana and Serbia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on family welfare and child protection following a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of a United Nations event in New York.

The meeting brought together Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, and Serbia’s Minister for Family Welfare and Demography, Jelena Zaric Kovacevic, during the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters.

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries and sharing experiences on family systems, child protection, population management, and social protection policies.

In her opening remarks, Ms Kovacevic welcomed the Ghanaian delegation and described the meeting as an opportunity for both countries to exchange ideas and learn from each other on family welfare and demographic issues.

She emphasised the importance of international collaboration in addressing social challenges affecting families and children.

Dr Lartey, for her part, noted that Ghana traditionally operates under an extended family system, which has long served as a strong support network for families.

However, she noted that changing social and economic conditions are gradually leading to increased interest in nuclear family structures.

The minister explained that Ghana is addressing population and family welfare issues through a number of policy interventions and legal frameworks aimed at promoting sustainable development and protecting vulnerable groups.

She outlined several policies and programmes implemented by the government to promote child protection and social welfare, including the Revised Early Childhood Care and Development Policy, the National Care Reform Roadmap (2024–2028), the National Child and Family Welfare Policy, the National Gender Policy, and the Social Protection Act.

Dr Lartey added that the Gender Ministry plays a coordinating role in ensuring that social protection programmes reach vulnerable populations.

Ms Kovacevic also highlighted the need for an inter-sectoral approach to family and child protection, noting that in Serbia, the ministry works closely with other institutions, including the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Education, to address social protection issues.

She stressed that while financial resources are important, effective social protection measures should also rely on strong policies, institutional coordination and well-structured social programmes.

Both ministers agreed to strengthen collaboration between their ministries on family and child protection issues and explore opportunities for capacity building for social welfare professionals.

They also agreed to enhance data systems to support evidence-based policymaking and improve the implementation of social protection programmes.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the two countries to exchange experiences and explore areas of cooperation in promoting family welfare and child protection.

During the engagement, Ms Kovacevic also invited Dr Lartey to participate in an international conference scheduled for December 2026 in Serbia, where she is expected to share Ghana’s experiences in family systems and social protection.