VALIDATION WORKSHOP ON THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COORDINATION OF GENDER EQUALITY IN GHANA

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its Department of Gender with the support from UNFPA, in a bid to strengthen institutional coordination, promote accountability, and accelerate progress towards achieving gender equality in the country, has organized a one-day national stakeholder validation workshop on the draft National Framework for Coordination of Gender Equality in Ghana.

The meeting held in Accra on 13th August 2025 was to review, refine, and endorse the draft framework before finalization.

Among other things, the meeting sought to;

-present the key elements and structure of the draft framework to stakeholders

-solicit feedback, recommendations, and concensus on the framework

-Foster stakeholders ownership and ensure alignment with national and international commitments.

-Agree on a roadmap for the operationalization of the validated framework.

In a welcome address on behalf of the Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Director for the Department of Gender, Mrs. Faustina Acheampong, expressed appreciation to participants for honoring the invitation, describing their presence as a demonstration of shared commitment towards advancing gender equality and promoting the rights and well-being of women and girls in Ghana.

She noted that the development of the draft framework was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2024 to address the long-standing need for a cohesive national structure that can effectively coordinate collaboration among stakeholders in promoting gender equality. Thus, the framework, when adopted, would harmonize interventions, avoid duplication of efforts and ensure that gender equality programmes are strategic and impactful.

Madam Faustina assured the stakeholders of the Ministry’s continuous engagement to implement programmes that promote gender equality, equity, and women’s empowerment.

She also expressed gratitude to UNFPA for their technical and financial support and to the lead consultant, Madam Bernice Sam, Esq., for providing solid technical guidance in shaping the framework into a forward-looking and responsive tool.

Delivering remarks on behalf of UNFPA, the National Programme Analyst Gender, Ms. Selina Owusu, commended Ghana for its progress in advancing gender justice, citing the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, and the election of the country’s first female vice president as landmark achievements. She described the draft framework as a vital tool for institutionalizing clear coordination mechanisms, aligning stakeholder efforts, and promoting mutual accountability across the gender sector.

Madam Selina Owusu reiterated UNFPA’s commitment to supporting the operationalization of the framework, including capacity building and the development of a comprehensive stakeholder database to enhance planning, resource alignment, and gap identification.

The workshop also featured a detailed presentation on the draft Gender Equality Coordination Architecture, which outlined the proposed institutional arrangements, coordination mechanisms, and implementation roadmap.

Participants were later engaged in group discussions to examine specific sections of the framework, after which each group presented its findings and recommendations during plenary.

The workshop ended with stakeholders expressing strong commitment to championing the adoption and implementation of the framework, which, when finalised, is expected to serve as a strategic blueprint for harmonising gender equality interventions, strengthening partnerships and accelerating progress towards national and international commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Source: MoGCSP