By Edith Atiaka Eshun
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening market-based daycare centres across the country, describing them as critical bridges between today’s working mothers and the future of Ghana’s children.
During an assessment visit to the 31st December Market Daycare Centre at Makola, the Sector Minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, emphasised that child protection and early childhood development remain core priorities under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
Addressing market leaders, caregivers and stakeholders, Dr Lartey explained that the visit followed extensive consultations and a review of the revised Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Policy introduced last year.
She noted that the ministry had engaged stakeholders ahead of the visit to assess existing structures and explore ways to modernise the market daycare concept in line with emerging child protection concerns.
She commended the leadership of the market, the daycare management and partners who have sustained the initiative despite existing challenges, describing the centre as a model worth strengthening and expanding.
“When you listen to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, you realise that child care and protection are not just duties for him, they are a passion,” she stated. “That is why we are here today: to join forces with management and ensure that children between zero and eight years, their most critical formative years, do not miss out on proper development.”
She said the Department of Children and the Department of Social Welfare would work closely with caregivers to provide training, psychosocial support and ensure full compliance with the ECCD policy and child protection laws.
“This is not just about infrastructure,” she stressed. “It is about safeguarding children, minimising abuse and ensuring that every child grows up in a safe and secure environment. If we get early childhood care right as a nation, many social problems will be reduced.”
Responding to questions on expansion and nationalisation, the minister said the market daycare concept had already been replicated in several markets and that plans were underway to modernise and standardise them nationwide.
The President of the Greater Accra Markets Association, Mercy Afrowa Needjan, commended the minister and her team for the visit and appealed for government support to enhance their operations.
