The Australian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Berenice Owen-Jones, has paid a working visit to the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to explore areas of collaboration and strengthen bilateral relations. The meeting focused on advancing gender and social development, with key discussions on promoting gender equality, women’s participation in peace and security, child protection, and addressing the issue of street children.
Dr. Lartey expressed appreciation for the visit and emphasized the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the Australian High Commission to support government priorities in social protection and gender equality. The Ambassador commended Ghana for its leadership in promoting gender equality, particularly the recent passage of the Affirmative Action Act, which she described as a significant milestone in advancing women’s rights and representation.
The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to inclusivity, reducing vulnerability, and strengthening social protection systems. She also revealed plans to establish a Gender Equity Committee to oversee the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act and farming service centres to empower women in agribusiness. Dr. Lartey emphasized the need for collaboration to address the growing national security concern of street children, calling for a collective effort to curb the issue.
The Australian High Commission, led by Ambassador Berenice Owen-Jones, has shown commitment to promoting women’s rights and gender equality in Ghana. Her Excellency has previously expressed her mission’s desire to partner with institutions like the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to promote academic excellence and support initiatives that advance gender equality.
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