Ghana is training paralegals in market centres and mobilising communities nationwide to ensure women and girls understand their rights and can exercise them, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, told the United Nations.
Speaking at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York on March 8, 2026, coinciding with International Women’s Day, Dr. Lartey highlighted Ghana’s grassroots approach to democratizing access to justice, going beyond courtrooms and legislation to reach women where they live and work.
“We are intensifying community engagement to empower women and girls with knowledge of their rights so that they can seek redress, demand accountability, and challenge injustice,” Dr. Lartey said during the general discussion with fellow ministers and delegates.
The training initiative targets not only judicial officers and law enforcement agencies but also social service providers, with a focus on paralegals stationed in market centres. These paralegals are equipped to handle cases involving women and girls effectively and sensitively, ensuring justice is accessible to those who might otherwise be excluded.
“Justice systems, no matter how well designed on paper, are of little use if women cannot navigate them,” Dr. Lartey noted.
She also cited Ghana’s robust legislative framework supporting these efforts, including the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024, the National Gender Policy 2025–2034, the Social Protection Act 2025, the Cybersecurity Act 2020, the Land Act 2020, and the Environmental Protection Act 2025.
Institutional reforms targeting gender-based violence are also underway. Specialized units within the Ghana Police Service and operational gender desks at national and local levels are improving how cases are reported, managed, and prosecuted. The initiative fosters closer coordination between the judiciary, social welfare services, and civil society organisations.
“Ensuring access to justice for all women and girls is not only a legal obligation, but also a moral and developmental imperative,” Dr. Lartey said, emphasizing that justice is foundational to peace, equality, human rights, and sustainable development.
She acknowledged that significant social, economic, and structural barriers still limit many women and girls from accessing justice. Dr. Lartey called on international partners to support Ghana in dismantling discriminatory laws and challenging harmful social norms.
“We look forward to a future where access to justice is not merely an aspiration, but a lived reality for every woman and girl,” she concluded.