Child Protection: Experts push for dedicated budget and 5% DACF allocation

A dedicated national budget for child protection has emerged as the central reform demand from a major national workshop held recently in Accra, where over 140 stakeholders called for urgent financing and structural changes to strengthen Ghana’s child protection system.

This was contained in a summary report issued by SOS Children’s Villages Ghana following the National Advocacy and Child Protection Workshop 2026.

According to the report, participants developed a 2026–2027 National Advocacy Roadmap aimed at shifting child protection from fragmented responses to coordinated national action.

“A dedicated national budget for child protection; Allocation of at least 5% of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) for child protection interventions,” the report stated.

Participants said Ghana’s challenge is no longer the absence of policies, but “weak implementation, inadequate financing, limited staffing, fragmented coordination and limited accountability mechanisms at district and community levels.”

The roadmap also outlines reforms, including passage of the Social Workers Bill with mandatory licensing, restructuring of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, establishment of Child Protection Committees at district and community levels, and creation of Child-Safe Hubs to improve coordinated service delivery.

The report notes early policy engagement, with Parliament’s Select Committee on Human Rights pledging support for reforms, while the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection expressed readiness to take a look at the recommendations.

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According to the report, the expected outcome is a “more coordinated, better resourced, and accountable child protection system” that improves frontline services and ensures stronger protection for vulnerable children across Ghana.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from government, Parliament, civil society organisations, development partners, academia, media, and local authorities.

JKB/EB

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