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Development partners meet Gender Minister on Ghana’s Social Protection agenda
Development Partners working in the social protection space have met with the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to deepen collaboration and support efforts to address growing vulnerabilities among Ghana’s population.
Development partners including UNICEF, the World Bank and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Organization, sought to explore strategic ways of improving the design, coordination, and financing of social protection (SP) programmes in Ghana.
Discussions centred on key priorities such as increasing the national budget allocation for social protection, implementing reforms under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme and the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), and introducing future increases in LEAP cash grants as part of efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Development Partners highlighted the importance of operationalising the LEAP Indexation Mechanism, a benchmark introduced under the IMF programme to ensure that benefits are indexed to inflation and gradually cover at least 20% of household consumption.
The meeting also touched on the ongoing LEAP reassessment, the development of a shock-responsive SP strategy, and the need for a strong and inclusive national social registry that supports policy targeting and programme delivery.
Emphasis was placed on building partnerships with the private sector to enhance delivery and sustainability of social protection systems in Ghana.
Particular attention was given to interventions aimed at vulnerable groups, including adolescent girls.
The partners expressed interest in empowerment programmes, development of tools to combat teenage pregnancy, and strategies to engage boys and promote positive masculinity as part of the broader gender equality agenda.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reaffirmed government’s commitment, led by President John Dramani Mahama, to ensuring that social protection is given the priority and visibility it deserves in public policy.
She stressed the importance of collaboration among government institutions to deliver integrated services, and called for improved coordination across programmes through tools that allow institutions to access and utilize data from the social registry.
The Sector Minister also emphasized government’s dedication to strengthening gender-responsive policies, ensuring that both boys and girls are not left behind in the drive for equality and sustainable development.
Development Partners welcomed government’s renewed commitment and pledged continued support in areas such as technical assistance, capacity building, policy development, and resource mobilization to ensure that social protection reaches all who need it – especially in the face of rising poverty and widening regional inequalities.
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Prioritise affordable treatment of sickle cell treatment —Health Expert
Health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) as advanced, but costly curative therapies remain out of reach.
SCD, an inherited blood disorder, affects about three in every 100 newborns in Ghana.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
In recent years, gene therapy has been developed as a potential cure.
However, its cost—running into millions of dollars per patient—makes it financially and technically inaccessible in Ghana.
According to Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must instead focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea”, a decades-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life- threatening complications in SCD patients”.
Taken orally, the medicine improves red blood cell function and is considered safe and effective.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably.” he urged.
In a chat with The Spectator here, he said to create awareness on the disease, the expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana.”
Stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
Moreover, he argued that scaling up access would provide immediate relief while the country builds the infrastructure, trains specialists and secures funding needed to support curative therapies in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, Dr Osei Tutu cautioned that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
