Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs

Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
Agency overview
Formed 2001
Jurisdiction Republic of Ghana
Headquarters Ghana Accra, Ghana
Minister responsible Nana Oye Lithur

The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MWCA) or Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) of Ghana is the government ministry responsible for the formulation of policies that promote the institutionalization and development of women and children issues.[1]

History

The ministry was created in 2001 by the John Kufour administration to address women and children issues.[1]

Minister of the MWCA and MGCSP

The head of the ministry is the Minister of Women and Children's Affairs and Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection. The first head of the ministry when it was created in 2001 was Hon. Mrs. Gladys Asmah and first head of the ministry when it was renamed MGCSP in February 2013 is Nana Oye Lithur.[2]

Year Minister
2001-2005 Gladys Asmah
2005-2009 Alima Mahama
2009-2010 Akua Sena Dansua (MP)
2010 - 2012 Juliana Azumah-Mensah (MP)
2013 - Nana Oye Lithur

Aims And Objectives of the Ministry

The ministry has among its Objectives the formulation of gender and children policies and guidelines, propose programmes that promote women and children affairs and the development of institutions that encourage women empowerment.

Advocacy

The ministry's role makes it advocate for better treatment for women and children. Issues of concern that come to the fore are handled by the ministry. One of such issues was the 2011 when the ministry announced it would in collaboration with the Ghana Department of Social Welfare undertake a re-registration of orphanages in the country. This was due to media publications of poor management of certain orphanages in the country. in a bid to eliminating unlicensed ones from the system. The publications reported that the orphanages were being used as transit points for child trafficking and had become places of abuse for inmates.[3]

Awards

The ministry in 2011 celebrated International Women's Day in Accra. During the celebration, the maiden Ghana Women of Excellence Awards was held at the Accra International Conference Centre. The awards day was themed ‘Empowering the Ghanaian Woman for National Development’. 34 Ghanaian women were honoured at the ceremony for their contribution to national development.[4]

Achievements

The ministry from 2001 has worked on several issues of concern to both women and children. They include:[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ministry of Women & Children's Affairs". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ministry of Women And Children's Affairs". www.ghana.gov.gh. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Women and Children’s Affairs Ministry to descend on fake orphanages". www.news1.ghananation.com. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Vice-Chancellor Honoured". www.ucc.edu.gh. Retrieved 31 May 2011.