Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has joined African leaders and development partners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the official opening of the inaugural Africa Care Forum.
Representing H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana and African Union Champion for Gender and Development, Dr. Lartey commended the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender and Youth Directorate for establishing the high-level continental platform. She extended warm greetings on behalf of the President and underscored the necessity of placing care at the heart of the continent’s socio-economic strategies.
The historic gathering, held under the theme “Placing Care at the Centre of Africa’s Development Agenda,” aims to elevate the care economy into a strategic pillar for economic transformation.
Delegates emphasized that targeted investments in care systems can stimulate inclusive growth, create decent jobs, boost productivity, and significantly expand economic participation for women across Africa.
Addressing the forum during the opening ceremony, Dr. Lartey pointed out that the unequal burden of unpaid care work remains a persistent barrier to women’s advancement in education, entrepreneurship, formal employment, and leadership roles.
She reiterated Ghana’s unwavering commitment to tackling these structural inequities through robust social protection and policy reform.
Highlighting national efforts, the Minister detailed key interventions including the National Gender Policy 2025–2034, which sets out a long-term framework to eliminate systematic barriers and foster equal opportunity.
She further referenced the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy 2025, an initiative designed to provide integrated health, nutrition, education, and protection services while supporting parents and professional caregivers.
Dr. Lartey urged participating nations to use the conference as a launchpad for a new continental compact on care. She called for aligned policy framework, stronger political commitment, and sustainable funding to build accessible, gender-responsive care infrastructure that supports families and drives long-term economic growth across Africa.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana