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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.
News
NPP Will Surely Return to Power in 2028 — Justin Kodua Declares, Accuses Mahama Government of State-Sponsored Persecution
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has expressed confidence that the party will return to power in December 2028, promising that the NPP will present a stronger, united front to the Ghanaian people.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Mr. Kodua assured members and supporters that despite current challenges, the NPP remains the best option for Ghana’s development.
“We have more than three years to preach to Ghanaians our record and what the New Patriotic Party stands for. I can assure you, issues of apathy and reconciliation will all be addressed. Inshallah, come December 7, 2028, the New Patriotic Party will surely come back to power,” he declared confidently.
Mr. Kodua also used the platform to criticize the John Mahama-led government, accusing it of persecuting NPP members through the abuse of state institutions.
According to him, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government has “weaponised” state security agencies and the judiciary to target political opponents, describing the situation as a dangerous threat to Ghana’s democracy.
He said the NPP had on several occasions held demonstrations and press conferences to remind the government that Ghana is a country governed by the rule of law, but such calls have gone unheeded.
“Unfortunately, our calls have fallen on deaf ears, but as a party, we shall not back down on our resolve to fight this injustice,” he said.
Mr. Kodua cited instances where NPP members have allegedly been detained beyond the lawful 48-hour limit and subjected to excessive bail conditions.
He stressed that these actions violate Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees that any person arrested or detained must be brought before a court within 48 hours or released on reasonable terms.
He further noted that the practice also contravenes Section 96 of the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act (Act 30) and several Supreme Court decisions, including Martin Kpebu vs. Attorney-General, which emphasize that bail must not be punitive or unreasonable.
“Under President John Mahama’s administration, a person is rather presumed guilty until proven innocent. This level of selective justice and intolerance of dissent is eroding public confidence in Ghana’s democratic and judicial systems,” he lamented.
Mr. Kodua described as alarming the growing “culture of silence,” where citizens are allegedly targeted for expressing dissenting opinions on social media, warning that it poses a threat to the nation’s democratic gains.
He reaffirmed the NPP’s commitment to defending justice and freedom, insisting that the party will not relent in protecting the rights of its members and all Ghanaians.
“The repercussions of this culture of silence are dangerous. It reverses the democratic progress we’ve made as a country,” he warned.
In a more hopeful tone, Mr. Kodua announced that the NPP would soon resume issuing membership cards to strengthen its grassroots organization ahead of the 2028 elections.
“I’m happy to announce that starting next week, we’ll continue with the issuing of membership cards to our members,” he said.
He ended his address by reiterating his belief that the NPP will return to power in 2028, saying Ghanaians have experienced both major political parties and can clearly see the difference.
“Ghanaians have tested both the NPP and the NDC, and I tell you, the difference will be clear. The New Patriotic Party will surely come back to power,” he concluded confidently.
— By Jacob Aggrey
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has arrived in Brazil to lead Ghana’s delegation to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
The global climate summit is being held in Belém, a city in northern Brazil, where world leaders, negotiators, civil society groups, and environmental experts are meeting to discuss major decisions on climate action, nature conservation, and sustainable development.
As head of Ghana’s delegation, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah is expected to deliver Ghana’s national statement at the Summit of Heads of State on Thursday, November 6, 2025, on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama.
His speech will highlight Ghana’s key climate priorities, commitments, and expectations for global cooperation.
The Acting Minister and his team will also participate in negotiations, ministerial dialogues, and other scheduled activities throughout the two-week conference, which runs from November 6 to November 21, 2025.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Ghana’s participation in COP30 underscores the government’s strong commitment to protecting the environment, promoting climate resilience, and building strategic partnerships with other countries to tackle global environmental challenges.
The Ministry added that Ghana will continue to use international platforms such as COP30 to share knowledge, engage in meaningful dialogue, and strengthen cooperation for sustainable development.
— By Jacob Aggrey
