In a bid to review and update the National Strategic Framework (NSF) on Ending Child Marriage and to assess progress towards eliminating the practice by 2030, the Child Marriage Unit of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in collaboration with UNFPA and UNICEF Ghana, has held a one-day consultative meeting in Accra on Wednesday, 21 January 2026.
The meeting, organised under the UNFPA/UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage (Phase III), sought to solicit inputs from stakeholders on key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned in the implementation of the National Strategic Framework between 2017 and 2025.
It also aimed to identify implementation bottlenecks and systemic challenges, while drawing practical insights from frontline implementers to inform the revision of the framework.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Head of the Child Marriage Unit, Madam Saphia Tamimu, stated that the National Strategic Framework reflects Ghana’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and potential of every child.
She noted that significant strides have been made in legislative and policy advancement, including the passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), the enactment of the Social Protection Act (Act 1148), and the enforcement of the Children’s Act, among others.
According to her, these efforts have deepened the Ministry’s understanding of the structural vulnerabilities that contribute to child marriage in the country.
“This has necessitated a review and update of our strategic directions, particularly as only four years remain to achieve Sustainable Development Goal target 5.3 on ending child marriage by 2030,” she added.
Representatives from UNFPA and UNICEF Ghana highlighted the importance of evidence-based programming and strong partnerships in ending child marriage.
They noted that Phase III of the Global Programme focuses on scaling up proven interventions, strengthening systems, and amplifying the voices of adolescent girls to drive sustainable change.
Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on priority actions, implementation strategies, and coordination mechanisms outlined in the framework.
The consultative process provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share insights, validate proposed interventions, and ensure that the revised framework reflects emerging realities, national development priorities, and the lived experiences of girls at risk of child marriage.
