The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has said that with one in four Ghanaians still facing poverty, rampant youth unemployment and the looming threats of climate change, the fight for social, gender and climate justice demands immediate and collective action.
She has,therefore, cautioned Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) working in the area that “We cannot afford to be complacent”.
She said this at the 35th anniversary of ActionAid Ghana at a cocktail ceremony in Accra last Thursday.
The ceremony celebrated the organisation's improved socio-economic status of vulnerable populations through targeted interventions.
Reflection
The anniversary, she said, was not just a reflection of the CSO's journey, but a bold declaration of what can be accomplished when “we unite for a common cause”.
She said the work of AAG and its partners aligned closely with the ministry’s goal of promoting social justice, particularly in collaboration with women, girls and persons who are challenged.
She said since its inception, the organisation's contributions have made it a vital partner to the Gender Ministry and an essential pillar of national development.
She said the AAG’s advocacy for women’s rights had been nothing short of transformative, prompting legislative changes such as the Affirmative Action Law (2024), driving critical labour reforms and shutting down alleged witch camps, thereby restoring dignity to vulnerable women.
For the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, these are not mere statistics; they represent transformed, real lives and communities empowered.
They reflect our shared vision of Ghana, where every individual — woman, man, and child — lives with dignity and is free from fear and discrimination.
“On behalf of my ministry, I commend ActionAid Ghana's resolute policy advocacy and grassroots mobilisation efforts.
From campaigns addressing unpaid care work to climate adaptation initiatives and robust support for survivors of violence through the Wa Survivors' Centre and Community-Based Anti-Violence Teams, your actions align perfectly with our mission to protect and empower the marginalised,” she added.
Launch
She said with the recent launch of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024, Act 1211, and call for collective efforts in its implementation, “I want to affirm our commitment to continue this partnership, moving forward into the next 35 years with determination and beyond.
Together, we will sustain and accelerate our progress — ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind.
In an opening address, the Country Director, AAG, John Nkaw, said 35 years of ActionAid Ghana’s journey had been a journey of solidarity, resilience and transformation.
“Since 1990, we have worked hand-in-hand with communities across 11 regions, transforming lives, building resilience and fighting for justice.
“We began as a small service provider in the Bawku West District, but with a clear vision — to eradicate poverty and advance social justice.
“Thirty-five years on, that vision has not wavered. In fact, it has grown stronger. “Together with communities, we have sown seeds of transformation that continue to bear fruit in the lives of women, girls and young people across the country”.
He said in the fields and farmlands, “we have championed agroecology and food sovereignty — uplifting over 2,000 female extension volunteers who now lead the charge in climate-resilient farming”.
Their work, he said, had directly benefited more than 15,000 women farmers and “through our Green Economy Programmes, over 200 communities now have Climate Adaptation Plans to safeguard their livelihoods against the threats of climate change”.
He added that between 2016 and 2021, the AAG, under the AGREE Activity, formed the Women in Agriculture Platforms (WAPs), which have contributed to creating an expanded space for 16,517 women in the WAPs, increasing women's participation and access to agriculture value-chain opportunities.
Writer’s email:Rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh
