Accra: Stakeholders from the Northern and North East Regions have convened in Bolgatanga to develop Regional Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) contingency plans aimed at strengthening preparedness and response to crises affecting children. According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop, hosted by the North East Regional Coordinating Council with funding support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), brought together technical officers from Regional Coordinating Councils, Local Government Service representatives, members of the Child Protection in Emergencies Working Group, officials from the Department of Children under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders. Addressing participants, Mr. Iddrisu Sunday, Northern Regional Acting Director of the Department of Children, said the initiative is part of efforts to decentralize Ghana's child protection emergency framework for effective responses at regional and district levels. He n oted that while Ghana continues to face emergencies such as floods, dry spells, fire outbreaks, public health crises, and conflicts, children remain the most vulnerable and disproportionately affected. 'In emergency situations, children face heightened risks including abuse, neglect, exploitation, family separation, disruption of education, and severe psychosocial distress,' he said, emphasizing the need for strong preparedness systems and coordinated response mechanisms prioritizing children's protection and wellbeing. Mr. Sunday explained that although a National Child Protection in Emergencies Contingency Plan was developed and validated in 2025, it was necessary to translate the framework into practical, context-specific regional plans. 'The purpose of this workshop is to develop Regional CPiE Contingency Plans aligned with existing disaster preparedness structures and responsive to the specific risks within your regions,' he said. He urged participants to actively contribute their knowledge and experie nces to ensure the plans are realistic and implementable. He also highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, noting that protecting children in emergencies requires coordinated efforts among institutions responsible for disaster management, social protection, child welfare, and local governance. He expressed appreciation to UNICEF and other partners for their continued support. Northern Ghana has faced multiple emergencies in recent years, including perennial floods, the 2024 dry spell, an influx of displaced persons from the Sahel crisis, the Bawku chieftaincy conflict, and the 2025 Sawla conflict. These events exposed gaps in preparedness and response systems, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children. The workshop is expected to produce two comprehensive Regional Child Protection in Emergencies Contingency Plans for the Northern and North East Regions. The plans will enhance stakeholder preparedness, clarify roles and coordination mechanisms at the sub-national level , and strengthen the resilience and risk management capacities of the Regional CPiE Working Group and Department of Children staff. Participants expressed optimism that the outcomes of the workshop would significantly improve child protection responses during emergencies, safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of children in the affected regions.
- April 5, 2026
