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Gender Ministry, UNFPA hold review meeting on child marriage information portal

To assess the progress, performance, and future directions of the Child Marriage Information Portal (CMIP), a one-day review meeting tailored for the editorial team and stakeholders was held on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
The programme is under the auspices of the Child Marriage Unit of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA).
Among other things, the meeting sought to; Enhance editorial collaboration among stakeholders for effective content creation, Identify opportunities to enhance readers’ engagement and audience reach and increase accessibility and utilisation of the child marriage database.
Delivering her welcome address, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakariah intimated that child marriage is a heinous act which robs millions of children especially girls of their childhood, education, and opportunities in their lives
She empathised that the CMIP developed by MoGCSP, Child Marriage Unit and the UNFPA, stands as a beacon of hope in fighting against child marriage.
‘This portal is a web-based platform that provides policymakers, practitioners, and the public real-time access to critical information on child marriage, sexual and gender- based violence,” she added
Dr Afisah Zakariah charged the editorial team and the stakeholders to work together to ensure the portal becomes a true one-shop for knowledge, empowering communities, informing policies, and driving action to meet the SDG of eliminating child marriage by 2030.
To buttress her point, the Head of the Child Marriage Unit, Madam Safia Tamimu underscored the importance of the CMIP as a tool of knowledge dissemination, data-sharing, and coordination in the national campaign to end child marriage.
She called on the officers to be bold in their commitment, share stories, amplify their successes, and confront challenges in order to promote transparency, access to data, and inter-sectoral collaboration in the CMIP.
During the meeting, the Representative from UNFPA Ghana, Madam Doris Mawusi Aglobitse, reaffirmed the organization’s ongoing support.
She urged participants to remain engaged in ensuring the child marriage information portal becomes a reliable, user- friendly and inclusive platform for national advocacy regarding child marriage.
The editorial team evaluated the portal’s effectiveness in providing credible, accessible, and actionable information related to child marriage in the country.
The review meeting brought forward actionable insights for improving the Child Marriage Information Portal, supporting the national efforts to end child marriage, and empowering affected communities in Ghana.
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency

The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.