Civil society organisations (CSOs) have petitioned Parliament to adopt urgent reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s child protection system, citing persistent funding shortages, weak institutional coordination and limited capacity at the district level.

The groups warn that these challenges continue to fuel rising cases of child abuse, trafficking and child labour despite years of interventions.

According to a report by JoyNews sighted by GhanaWeb on June 1, 2026, the call follows a national dialogue organised by SOS Children's Villages Ghana, which brought together more than 140 stakeholders to discuss weaknesses in the country’s child protection framework.

National Advocacy Advisor for SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, Gloria Emeka, said inadequate funding and overstretched social welfare systems remain major obstacles to protecting children.

“The volume of issues that has to do with children and abuses, the money we have is very limited,” she said, noting that many government ministries and departments often depend on CSOs and development partners for support.

She called for a dedicated domestic budget for child protection and proposed that at least five percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund be earmarked for child protection initiatives, particularly Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs).

Child Protection: Experts push for dedicated budget and 5% DACF allocation

According to her, expanding CCPCs nationwide would significantly improve child welfare monitoring and response systems at the community level.

Chairman of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Ernest Yaw Anim, backed the proposal, calling for the establishment of CCPCs across all district assemblies to strengthen the reporting and monitoring of abuse cases.

He said observations from oversight visits to some districts demonstrated the positive impact of the committees, including helping identify children out of school and addressing child welfare concerns.

“We committed during those oversight visits to push for the establishment of CCPCs,” he said, expressing optimism that steps are already underway to expand the initiative nationwide.

Meanwhile, a member of Parliament for Suhum, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, indicated that Parliament would collaborate with relevant ministries and use parliamentary instruments to help implement the recommendations.

He added that reports gathered during committee visits to some constituencies underscored the urgency of strengthening child protection mechanisms across the country.

MRA/VPO

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