National Stakeholders Symposium 2025: Ghana Rallies to Accelerate Action for Street-Connected Children

The 2025 National Stakeholders Symposium was held in Accra under the theme “Accelerating the Implementation of Ghana’s Five-Year Strategic Plan for Street-Connected Children and Young Persons: From Policy to Action.” The high-level event brought together key players from government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the media to push forward meaningful and coordinated efforts to address the needs of street-connected children across the country.

Delivering a keynote address at the event, Dr. Prince Amoah Brah, Director of the Department of Social Welfare, emphasized the urgency of translating policy into action to restore dignity and opportunity to one of Ghana’s most vulnerable populations.

“It is both an honour and a solemn responsibility to stand before you today at this national symposium organized by The Street Children Empowerment Foundation,” Dr. Amoah Brah stated. “The five-year strategic plan we are gathered here to discuss is a roadmap to restore dignity, hope, and opportunity to children who have for too long been neglected and marginalized.”

He reaffirmed the Department of Social Welfare’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the plan, noting the establishment of a Technical Working Group dedicated to the task. Dr. Amoah Brah stressed the need for holistic, community-driven interventions that confront root causes such as poverty, abuse, and lack of access to services.

“The task ahead of us is complex,” he noted. “But this plan aligns with our national child protection agenda. Every child, regardless of their background, deserves safety, education, healthcare, and a supportive environment to thrive.”

Dr. Amoah Brah called for a unified national effort, urging government institutions, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and international partners to become “co-architects of change.” He emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of street-connected children and ensuring that policies reflect their realities.

“We have the vision. We have the framework. Now is the time to act—with urgency, with empathy, and with unity of purpose,” he concluded.

The symposium, spearheaded by The Street Children Empowerment Foundation, served as a powerful platform to galvanize action and strengthen partnerships towards achieving lasting solutions for street-connected children in Ghana.