A group photograph of participants at the launch
In a significant step towards strengthening parliamentary leadership on children’s rights and well-being in Ghana, the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), with support from UNICEF Ghana and in collaboration with the Parliament of Ghana, has launched the Parliamentary Caucus on Children. The landmark initiative brings together Members of Parliament from across political parties and parliamentary committees under a shared commitment to champion child-responsive legislation, strengthen parliamentary oversight, promote evidence-informed policymaking and advocate for increased investment in Ghana’s children.
The launch, held under the Enhancing the Capacity of Parliament to Address Children’s Issues initiative, marks a new chapter in Ghana’s efforts to ensure that children’s rights remain at the heart of national development. More than a symbolic platform, the Caucus provides a unified parliamentary voice dedicated to advancing policies and legislation that protect, empower and improve the lives of every child in Ghana.
Launching the initiative, Mr. Camillo Pwamang, the Deputy Clerk to the Parliament of Ghana in charge of Legislative Management Services, described the Caucus as an important institutional platform that will strengthen Parliament’s role in advancing child-responsive governance. He encouraged Members to use the Caucus to champion policies, legislation and oversight that deliver measurable improvements in the lives of Ghanaian children.
Earlier, ACEPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Rasheed Draman, presented the Guidelines for the Formation of the Parliamentary Caucus on Children, outlining the Caucus’ vision, objectives and guiding principles. He emphasised that the Caucus is a voluntary, non-partisan platform designed to complement the work of Parliament’s committees by ensuring that children’s interests are consistently reflected in laws, national budgets and oversight activities.
“Children constitute over one-third of Ghana’s population, yet they have no direct voice in Parliament. The Caucus provides a platform for Members of Parliament to become that voice and ensure that every law, every budget and every oversight intervention consider the best interests of Ghana’s children,” Dr. Draman noted.
The launch also featured the adoption of the Accra Charter on the Rights of the Child, which was signed by the founding members of the Caucus. Through the Charter, Members pledged to champion child-responsive legislation, strengthen parliamentary oversight, advocate for increased investment in children and work collaboratively to ensure that no child is left behind.
Speaking after her confirmation as the inaugural Chairperson of the Caucus, Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, called for renewed parliamentary action to move beyond policy commitments.
“We have ratified many international conventions on children’s rights. The challenge now is implementation. This Caucus must become a strong parliamentary voice to ensure that our laws, our oversight and our national priorities truly protect every Ghanaian child,” she stated.
Delivering a goodwill message, UNICEF Ghana welcomed the establishment of the Caucus and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Parliament in advancing child-responsive governance. UNICEF emphasised that sustained parliamentary leadership is essential to ensuring that every child is protected, learns, survives and thrives.
The Parliamentary Caucus on Children has been established under the Enhancing the Capacity of Parliament to Address Children’s Issues initiative, implemented by ACEPA with support from UNICEF Ghana. Over the coming months, the initiative will support Members of Parliament through targeted capacity-building programmes, evidence-sharing sessions, policy dialogues and oversight activities aimed at strengthening Parliament’s role in promoting and protecting the rights of children.
The launch marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to institutionalise parliamentary leadership on children’s issues and reflects a shared commitment by Parliament, ACEPA and UNICEF Ghana to ensuring stronger voices in Parliament and brighter futures for children.
By: Freeman Dagadu, ACEPA
