The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has hosted a Christmas feast for children drawn from various residential care homes across the country as part of efforts to promote child welfare and social inclusion during the festive season.

The event, held at the Children’s Park in Accra ahead of Christmas, brought together dozens of children for a day filled with joy, interaction and celebration.

It formed part of the Ministry’s broader commitment to ensuring that vulnerable children feel loved, supported and included, particularly at a time when many may otherwise feel isolated.

Addressing the children and their caregivers, Dr. Lartey highlighted the values of compassion, community and hope, noting that Christmas offers an opportunity to reassure vulnerable children that they are not alone.

She encouraged the children to remain hopeful and assured them of the government’s continued support through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The Minister also reflected on Ghana’s ongoing reforms and transitions, expressing optimism that the nation would emerge stronger through unity, resilience and faith.

She stressed that creating a sense of family and belonging for children in care is central to the true spirit of Christmas.

The event was marked by excitement and laughter as the children enjoyed meals, music, games and the sharing of gifts, turning the park into a lively atmosphere of celebration.

Dr. Lartey further called on parents and guardians to take greater responsibility for the care, protection and upbringing of their children, emphasising that parental care remains irreplaceable in a child’s development.

She noted that while the government continues to implement social intervention programmes to support vulnerable families, parents must complement these efforts by providing love, guidance and proper supervision at home.

The Minister urged parents facing economic challenges to take advantage of existing government interventions such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme and the Ghana School Feeding Programme, explaining that access to support, including guaranteed daily meals in schools, can significantly improve children’s health, school attendance and learning outcomes.

She stressed that child upbringing should be seen as a shared responsibility involving parents, communities, faith-based organisations and the state, adding that strong collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to ensuring safe and nurturing environments for children.

Dr. Lartey commended social workers, caregivers and staff of the Ministry for their dedication to child welfare, particularly during festive periods, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening child protection systems nationwide.

She also appealed to the public to support initiatives aimed at safeguarding the future of Ghana’s children.