The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in collaboration with the Centre for Learning and Childhood Development (CLCD) Ghana, celebrated the 2025 National Children’s Day on Friday.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Building Strategic Intersectoral Coalitions to Advance Early Childhood Development”.
The event also marked the official launch of the EPIC Project: Engaging Policy Makers in Intersectoral Collaboration for Children – a partnership initiative with CLCD Ghana, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and University College London (UCL).
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, stated that there was an urgent need for collaboration across health, education, social protection, local governance, and community systems to secure the future of children, particularly those aged 0–8 years.
“Early childhood development must not rest on government’s shoulders alone but requires commitment from all sectors, communities, and families. She called for it to be treated as a true national priority, reflected in policies, budgets, and collective action”.
She added “investing in children is the most valuable investment any country can make, as every cedi spent on their health, education, and protection yields immeasurable returns for families and the nation” she emphasized
Additionally, Ghana has made progress in child rights, protection, and welfare, more effort is required to ensure no child is left behind during these formative years. Describing early childhood as too critical to be ignored.
“Neglecting children today would compromise the nation’s future’ she noted.
She expressed appreciation to stakeholders for their support and thanked the government for the unwavering commitment and Cabinet’s approval of the ECCD Policy 2025–2035, describing it as a milestone that will transform early childhood services in Ghana.
The Minister subsequently launched the EPIC Project, reaffirming government’s commitment to advancing early childhood development through stronger intersectoral collaboration.
She said the initiative seeks to build an inclusive and coordinated system that effectively responds to the needs of children while positioning Ghana’s child development agenda in line with global standards.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
