The 2026 National Justice Conference, organized by the International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana brought together key stakeholders at the Marriott Hotel Airport City, Accra on July 7, 2026, to address a pressing national challenge: Sustainable funding for child protection against labour exploitation.
The conference convened government officials, lawmakers, development partners, civil society organizations, traditional leaders and survivor advocates to address Ghana’s child labour crisis where approximately 21% of children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labour .
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that sustainable financing means “ensuring that available resources are strategically aligned, efficiently utilized and directed towards interventions that deliver lasting outcomes for children.”
The Member of Parliament for Suhum, Frank Asiedu Bekoe (Protozoa), made a notable contribution that broadened the conversation beyond institutional frameworks: He emphasized that, the State should invest in the promotion of responsible parenting to reduce factors and challenges to Child protection.”
This call reflects a growing recognition that sustainable child protection must begin at the family level. Responsible parenting serves as the first line of defense against child exploitation, trafficking and abuse. By investing in parenting education, family support systems and community awareness, the State can address root causes such as poverty, neglect and lack of awareness that drive children into exploitative situations.
Protozoa’s stance aligns with his June 2025 advocacy for stronger enforcement of Ghana’s Labour Act and increased funding for key institutions, where he drew attention to the “disturbing issue of child labour in parts of Ghana.”
The conference reinforced that protecting children is “a shared national responsibility.” IJM’s West Africa Programmes Director, Anita Budu, noted that “sustainable funding is no longer a future aspiration; it is an immediate necessity.”
Survivor Godson Glawu, trafficked to Lake Volta at age seven, powerfully reminded attendees that “hope alone is not enough” but urging increased funding for law enforcement, social welfare and preventive interventions. Protozoa’s call for investing in responsible parenting adds a crucial preventive dimension, emphasizing that child protection is as much about preventing harm at home as it is about rescue and rehabilitation.