The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with civil society organisations as part of efforts to drive community-led development and social transformation.
She made the remarks at the regional convening of the Shifting the Power Programme on Monday, 1st December 2025, where she officially launched the Civil Society Strengthening Programme (CSSP) Strategy as Guest of Honour. The event, organised by STAR Ghana Foundation and its partners, brought together actors from civil society, development agencies and international organisations for the unveiling of the new strategic framework.
Hon Dr Lartey described the gathering as an important milestone in reimagining the role of civil society within the development space. She emphasized that the CSSP Strategy represents more than a policy document, noting that it signals a renewed regional effort to enhance local leadership, improve organisational resilience and deepen collaboration among institutions across Ghana, Zambia and Malawi.
Highlighting the critical contributions of civil society to Ghana’s social development agenda, the Minister stressed that strong partnerships with CSOs are essential to the effective delivery of gender, child welfare and social protection mandates. She commended the sector for amplifying the voices of women and children, strengthening community structures, promoting accountability, and generating evidence that shapes national policies and programmes.
Hon Dr Lartey noted that her Ministry continues to prioritise platforms that bring government and civil society together to address emerging issues affecting vulnerable populations. She applauded STAR Ghana Foundation and its partners for their sustained investment in organisational development, capacity strengthening and collaborative initiatives, describing their contributions as invaluable to national progress.
As the event coincided with World AIDS Day, the Minister also called for renewed advocacy and community-led action in the fight against HIV. She urged stakeholders to intensify efforts to reduce new infections and ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable groups, can access treatment, support and essential services without stigma or discrimination.
The CSSP Strategy is expected to guide future collaboration between government and civil society, fostering stronger local ownership and inclusive development outcomes across the region.
