Ghana's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has launched the National Care Reform Roadmap (NCRR) 2024-2028.
The roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the social welfare workforce, document child protection cases, regulate residential homes for children and promote family-based care, and implement legislative reform to implement the care reform program.
It aims to enhance community gatekeeping by promoting the public’s awareness to encourage the return of children to their communities and empowering families to prevent unnecessary separation and harmful practices against children.
The NCRR represents a commitment by the Government of Ghana to prioritising family-based care as the cornerstone of its child protection agenda.
Mrs Darkoa Newman, Minister Designate, MoGCSP said the NCRR, which had been reviewed and validated, was developed to address the problems of children in residential care and issues of new homes springing up and, also to improve on reunification of these children with families.
She indicated that as of December 2023, there were 117 Residential Homes for Children (RHC) with 3,450 children.
Mrs Newman added that residential care should be considered as a last resort and a temporary solution to provide a haven for vulnerable children.