By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Tema, Oct. 22, GNA – At 12, Ama had already learnt to recognise the sound of an angry voice outside her bedroom because for months, she had lived with neglect and repeated abuse at home while other children grew up surrounded by family and protection.
Ama faces each day on her own
On the streets, hunger is only the beginning. Children like Ama can be exposed to violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking, dangerous work and people who see their vulnerability as an opportunity to take advantage of them.
A child searching for food can easily become a child forced to do whatever it takes to survive.
And when night falls, the danger can become even greater. Without a safe place to sleep or a responsible adult to protect her, Ama is exposed to risks that no child should have to face. The longer she remains on the streets, the harder it can break her away from the cycle of vulnerability.
When Ama is finally identified and brought to the attention of child-protection authorities, the work does not end there. A social welfare officer may need to assess her situation, trace her family, document her case, arrange counselling or alternative care, coordinate with other agencies and continue monitoring her welfare.
But what happens when the officer responsible for Ama is already handling several other cases involving vulnerable children?
The figures reveal another concern
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s analysis of Ghana’s 2026 budget showed that only about 49 per cent of the optimal social sector workforce was in place, leaving a 51 per cent staffing gap which meant that frontline workers responsible for protecting vulnerable children are operating under significant staffing constraints.
This potentially results in delayed responses to abuse and neglect, inadequate follow-up on reported cases, limited psychosocial support for affected children, and difficulties in identifying children at risk.
The shortage also increases the workload of existing personnel, raising the risk of burnout, reduced efficiency and errors in case management, and consequently, some vulnerable children may remain in unsafe environments for longer, while others may not receive the timely intervention and sustained support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
Without sustained intervention, Ama risks remaining trapped in street vending, with consequences for her education, physical and emotional well-being, and future opportunities.
For a child, like Ama, the shortage is therefore not just a workforce problem; it could determine how quickly she receives protection and whether she gets the chance to enjoy the childhood and opportunities she deserves.
Mr Kwasi Asante, Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF, said Ghana appears to be allocating more money to child protection in nominal terms, explaining that the Ministry of Gender allocated GHS3.2 billion in 2026, compared with GHS2.9 billion in 2025.
Mr Asante made this known during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by SOS Children’s Villages in collaboration with JoyNews, saying that child protection-related interventions across sectors also rose to about GHS165 million in 2026, from more than GHS7 million in 2021.
He, however, said the GHS165 million represents only about 0.04 per cent of total government expenditure, raising questions about whether child protection was receiving sufficient priority considering the multiple deprivations facing vulnerable children.
For Ama, the issue is not simply how much money appears in a national budget.
It is whether there is a trained social welfare officer available when she needs help, whether the officer has the resources to respond, whether her case is properly documented and followed up, and whether the protection system remains available long after the initial report.
That is why Ghanaians, experts and stakeholders are calling for child protection financing to go beyond headline allocations and focus on social welfare workforce capacity, operational funding and sustainable systems.
For Ama, a well-funded and sustained child protection system could mean the difference between remaining vulnerable and having a chance at a better future with enough social welfare officers, adequate resources and regular follow-ups. Her case could be addressed promptly, her safety assessed, and the underlying reasons for her street vending identified.
She could then be linked to appropriate support, including access to education, psychosocial care and assistance for her family, where necessary.
Conclusion
A sustained system would also ensure that Ama and others like her do not receive help only when their situation attracts public attention but continue to receive support until they are safe, and their long-term needs are addressed.
It would give Ama a better chance to return to school, develop her potential and enjoy the childhood she deserves.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Email address: [email protected]