The Child Marriage Unit of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in collaboration with UNFPA Ghana and UNICEF Ghana, has held a two-day National Stakeholders’ Meeting aimed at accelerating efforts to end child marriage in Ghana.
The meeting, held from Dec. 9 to Dec. 10, 2025, was organized under the theme, “Achieving Gender Equality, Empowering Futures: Accelerating Action to End Child Marriage.” It brought together government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations and community-based actors to review progress and strengthen coordination toward eliminating the practice nationwide.
Participants assessed interventions implemented over the past year, examined lessons learned, and identified gaps requiring urgent attention. The meeting also served as a platform to launch and disseminate a new operational monitoring and evaluation plan for 2025–2026, outlining baselines and targets to guide implementation and accountability. Stakeholders further discussed processes toward developing a new national strategic framework on ending child marriage by 2027.
In a statement read on behalf of the Ministry, Director of the Social Protection Directorate, Madam Francisca Atuluk, described child marriage as a major barrier to gender equality and national development. She acknowledged progress made through policy reforms and community-based interventions but noted that poverty, harmful cultural norms and limited access to education continue to fuel the practice in parts of the country.
Atuluk commended UNICEF Ghana and UNFPA Ghana for their sustained support and urged stakeholders to remain guided by a vision of a Ghana where every child grows up in safety, dignity and opportunity.
Head of the Child Marriage Unit, Madam Saphia Tamimu, stressed that ending child marriage requires collective action, noting that no single institution can address the challenge alone. She emphasized the importance of partnerships, evidence-based programming and active community participation to achieve lasting change.
Representatives from UNFPA Ghana and UNICEF Ghana underscored that child marriage violates the rights of girls, depriving them of education, health and future opportunities. They called for renewed commitment to ensure that no girl under 18 is married in Ghana.
Presentations during the meeting highlighted 2025 activities, including progress on the GTA Roadmap, community engagement initiatives and girls’ empowerment programs, reinforcing the role of empowerment as a key strategy in ending child marriage.