The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, paid a working visit to the 31st December Women’s Early Childhood Day Care Centre at Makola Market to assess operations and interact with children, caregivers, and market women.
During the visit, the minister engaged the management of the center to better understand their concerns, particularly in relation to early childhood care and development. She emphasized the government’s commitment to child protection and the importance of providing safe spaces for children of women working in the informal sector.
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The Queen Mother of the Greater Accra Market Women Association welcomed the minister and expressed appreciation for the visit, noting that market day care centers remain critical in supporting trading mothers. She appealed for continuous support to improve infrastructure and caregiving resources.
In a gesture of support, the minister donated GHc10,000 to the association, as well as the center, in order to aid in the operation of the daycare. Additionally, she provided drinks and biscuits for the children.
She further interacted with several market women to understand their working conditions and how government interventions can better support them.
As part of the tour, the minister visited the Makola Clinic to inspect the state of the facility and assess service delivery. She reiterated the Ministry’s resolve to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve child welfare and maternal support systems within market spaces.
Speaking to the media during the visit, the minister explained that the engagement formed part of follow-up actions after the revision of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy. She noted that the government, under the leadership of H. E. John Dramani Mahama, remains deeply committed to child protection, particularly within the critical formative years of zero to eight.
She commended the leadership of the 31st December Day Care Centre for sustaining the initiative despite operational challenges, stressing that effective day care systems contribute significantly to reducing child abuse and neglect.
The minister further highlighted plans to modernize and sustain market day care centers beyond political transitions, expand infrastructure in response to increasing demand, and scale up the concept across major markets nationwide.
The visit forms part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to strengthen the implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy, ensuring that children, particularly those in market environments, are nurtured in safe and protective settings.
