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MoGCSP joins Global Community to observe International Day for Street Children
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through the Department of Social Welfare, in collaboration with Cherish a Child Foundation, joined the global community to commemorate the International Day for Street Children under the theme, “Protect, Not Punish.”
The event highlighted the urgent need to shift societal and institutional responses toward street children from criminalisation to protection, care, and inclusion.
In an address delivered on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Chairperson of the event, Dr. Prince Boamah Abrah, emphasised that street children are among the most vulnerable in society and deserve compassion, not condemnation.
He noted that many of these children are driven to the streets by factors such as poverty, neglect, abuse, and limited access to basic social services.
According to him, the theme calls for a fundamental shift in mindset—from criminalising vulnerability to protecting dignity, and from neglecting needs to restoring hope.
Dr. Prince Boamah Abrah stressed that the government, through programmes such as LEAP and the School Feeding Programme, supports vulnerable households to reduce the economic pressures that push children onto the streets.
He called on all to choose compassion over indifference and protection over punishment in order to save children living on the streets.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Marian W. A. Kpakpah, a Principal Programmes Officer from the Department of Children, Madam Angela Kangah, stated that justice means creating systems that listen to children and respond to their needs rather than punishing them for their poverty.
“In doing so, we are choosing to invest in a brighter future for the entire country,” she added.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Cherish a Child Foundation, Madam Salome Delali, emphasised that street children are not criminals. They are victims of circumstance who need protection and support to rebuild their lives. She called for stronger collaboration among various institutions to successfully help remove children from the streets.
A moving segment of the programme featured testimonies from Nicholas Mawunyo, a street-connected child who shared his daily struggles and aspirations. His voice reinforced the central message of the theme—urging society to see street children as children in need of care rather than punishment.
The commemoration ended with a collective call to action for all stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable children and ensure that no child is left behind.
Ghana has made progress in the way it manages public resources and delivers services to citizens, with improvements in financial management and access to education and healthcare helping to raise its governance score.
The country ranked 92nd out of 133 countries worldwide and ninth in Africa in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), according to a report released last Thursday.
The improvement offers a positive sign for Ghana, although the country still faces challenges in areas such as leadership, long-term planning and creating an attractive environment for businesses.
The index showed that Ghana’s performance in Financial Stewardship, which measures how governments manage public finances and maintain fiscal sustainability, almost doubled this year after declining between 2021 and 2024.
Its score in Helping People Rise, which looks at how government policies and services improve people’s lives, also increased for the second consecutive year, reflecting progress in areas including education and healthcare.
However, the country recorded declines in Leadership and Foresight and Attractive Marketplace, indicating areas where further attention may be needed.
Ghana’s performance comes at a time when several African countries are also making progress in governance. The report found that 71 per cent of African countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 improved their overall scores.
Dinesh Naidu, Director of Knowledge at Chandler Governance Group, said the continent’s strongest gains were in financial management, followed by efforts to improve citizens’ lives.
He said the progress suggested that improvements in government capabilities were beginning to translate into tangible benefits, including better access to education and healthcare.
However, Africa continues to face significant challenges. Although average scores improved in six of the index’s seven pillars over the past year, the region’s overall average remains below its 2021 level.
The report also found that 23 of the 35 African countries assessed ranked outside the global top 100, while none made it into the top 50.
Globally, 61 per cent of the 120 countries assessed in both 2025 and 2026 recorded higher scores, representing the highest annual share of countries improving since the index began in 2021.
The Chandler Good Government Index assesses government capabilities and effectiveness across 133 countries, representing 94 per cent of the world’s population.
It uses 35 indicators grouped under seven pillars to help governments identify their strengths, recognise gaps and learn from the experiences of other countries.
Mr Naidu said rankings should not be treated as an end in themselves but as a guide to identifying areas that need improvement.
He said sustained progress depended on strong institutions, responsible use of public resources and the ability of governments to turn policies into meaningful outcomes for citizens.
For Ghana, the latest results point to progress in some important areas, while highlighting the need to strengthen other aspects of governance to ensure that improvements are felt in the daily lives of ordinary people.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
President John Mahama has arrived in Moscow, Russia, from Ethiopia to participate in the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit.
The summit is being hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the visit, President Mahama will join fellow African leaders at the Economic and Humanitarian Forum and summit plenary sessions.
He is also scheduled to hold high-level bilateral talks with President Putin and attend a Kente exhibition organised by the Russia-Ghana Parliamentary Forum.
As part of the visit, the President will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the Russian University of Transport and the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia.
He will also engage Russian businesses and state institutions to advance bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Russia.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
