By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah/Eugenia Otenwaa
Accra, May 30, GNA – The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has inaugurated a childcare centre at its premises to support staff, particularly nursing mothers.
The facility will cater for children aged seven months to three years, providing quality care and stimulation while parents attend to official duties.
“This childcare centre is a haven where children will receive quality care and stimulation through various activities, while their parents contribute to national development with the peace and concentration they deserve,” Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said at the launch on Friday.
The centre is staffed with trained caregivers and features early learning programmes to support cognitive and intellectual development. It also offers inclusive services for children with special needs.
Dr Lartey said the initiative was part of efforts to support working parents, especially mothers, who struggled to balance professional and childcare responsibilities.
She emphasised the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, describing it as crucial to child development.
“When women are present, they should be fully present without any worries because their children are receiving the needed care next door in a child-friendly environment while the parents fulfill their professional duties,” she added.
Dr. Lartey noted that the initiative aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to gender equality, child protection, and social inclusion.
She said the centre would promote children’s rights as outlined in the 1992 Constitution, the Children’s Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Minister acknowledged financial support from Child Rights International, which trained the facility’s caregivers, and encouraged both public and private institutions to adopt similar initiatives.
“When we nurture a child, we nurture a nation. Together, we can build a Ghana where every child is protected, educated, and empowered to reach their full potential,” she said.
Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director at the Ministry, described the opening as a significant step in supporting staff.
“Recognising the challenges faced by working parents, especially mothers, in balancing professional responsibilities with childcare, the ministry has established this centre to ensure that staff can perform their duties with peace of mind, knowing their children are in the same house,” she said.
Dr. Zakariah said the initiative was in line with the Ministry’s mandate to empower women and protect children’s rights.
She noted that the childcare centre complements the National Care Reform Roadmap 2024–2028, which seeks to shift child protection from institutional care to family-based care.
“The childcare giving centre is clear evidence of family-based care and does not necessitate children having to be enrolled in institutions as their parents discharge their professional duties when they can be close to them and still receive optimal care,” she stated.
Dr Zakariah commended the Minister for her leadership and acknowledged the contribution of development partners in realising the project.
“This facility stands as a statement to what we can achieve when we prioritise the needs of our staff and their families,” she added.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey