Ghana Reaffirms Commitment to Girls’ Rights as Minister Receives Dakar Declaration
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey has formally received the Dakar Girls’ Summit Declaration on behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana during the national commemoration of World Children’s Day held in Accra.
The Declaration, developed at the Dakar Girls’ Summit through consultations across 24 West and Central African countries, reflects the priorities and demands of adolescent girls across the region. Ghana was represented by a multi-sectoral delegation, including six adolescents, the Director of Gender, a Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Gender and Children’s Committee, academia, and UNICEF’s Adolescent and Gender Lead and Education Officer.
In her remarks, the Minister praised the leadership of Ghana’s young delegates and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing gender equality and child rights.
She highlighted that the Declaration aligns with Ghana’s national priorities, including investments in girls’ education, protection from violence and harmful practices, access to health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services, digital inclusion, and girls’ economic empowerment.
“The Dakar Declaration is not just a document – it is a moral call. Ghana is fully committed to ensuring that every girl can learn, lead, and thrive without fear, without limitation, and without discrimination,” said Dr Lartey.
The Minister emphasized that the voices of children and adolescents will continue to shape Ghana’s policy direction, noting that the country remains steadfast in upholding its legacy as the first nation to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
The event also featured the launch of “Let Them Shine,” a new child rights advocacy song produced in collaboration with multi award winning Ghanaian artist Kuami Eugene, reinforcing the national call to safeguard and promote the rights of every child.
