The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through the Central Adoption Authority (CAA), has convened a stakeholders’ engagement meeting to strengthen coordination, collaboration and efficiency within Ghana’s adoption system.
The meeting brought together key institutions involved in adoption to address bottlenecks, clarify roles and promote a shared understanding of the national laws, policies and procedures governing adoption.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, underscored the government’s strategic commitment to strengthening the country’s adoption framework in line with both national and international standards.
She described adoption as a critical child protection intervention that must be guided by integrity, professionalism and the highest standards of care, with the best interests of the child as the overriding principle.
Dr Lartey reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building the capacity of frontline officers, enhancing accountability and transparency, and reinforcing adoption systems nationwide. She urged stakeholders to renew their collective responsibility to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, permanent and loving family environment.
The Head of the Central Adoption Authority, Stephen Tikai Dombo, explained that the engagement was designed to foster structured collaboration and consensus-building among institutions to reduce delays and inefficiencies in the adoption process.
As part of the programme, participants received a presentation outlining the specific roles of various stakeholders within the adoption system. This was followed by a panel discussion on “Building Effective Collaboration to Reduce Delays in the Adoption Process,” during which institutions shared experiences and proposed practical solutions to improve service delivery.
The event also featured a cultural performance by children from the Osu Children’s Home, highlighting the human dimension of adoption and child protection efforts.
In her closing remarks, the Chief Director of MoGCSP and Chairperson of the Central Adoption Board, Dr Afisah Zakariah, commended participants for their active engagement.
She stressed the need for sustained collaboration, strict adherence to procedures and a shared commitment to safeguarding the welfare and best interests of every child in Ghana.
