Accra, Ghana — Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Wednesday participated in a Strategic Planning Retreat organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), aimed at strengthening policies for the welfare of children and adolescents in Ghana.
The retreat, held under the theme “Planning Together for a Better Future for Children and Adolescents in Ghana,” brought together key stakeholders to examine how national development planning can better respond to the needs of young people.
Discussions at the retreat reaffirmed that sectors such as education, social protection, justice, sanitation, economic policy, climate resilience and governance collectively shape the lives and future prospects of children.
Speaking at the event, the Vice President stressed that the true success of the retreat—organised in partnership with UNICEF—would be judged by tangible outcomes rather than dialogue alone.
“The measure of our success will be the concrete actions we take after these conversations,” she said, noting that child poverty and deprivation remain major challenges across the country.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted several child-centred reforms being advanced by government, including the Care Reform Roadmap, which prioritises safe, family-based care over institutionalisation. She also announced the rollout of a Digital Social Services initiative aimed at improving coordination and accountability in child protection systems.
“We are promoting coordinated social services, adolescent safe spaces, community prevention initiatives, and the Ghana Against Child Abuse campaign to protect children and empower young people,” she added.
The Vice President further underscored the importance of early intervention, stating that the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy remains a national priority.
According to her, investing in children between the ages of zero and eight is critical to Ghana’s long-term social and economic development.
By Abigail Grit
