Ghana launches new laws to strengthen social protection and gender equity
Story by: Regina Bless
Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has launched three major legal instruments aimed at strengthening social protection and advancing gender equity and inclusion in Ghana.
The instruments are the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), the Social Protection Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2521), and the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2522). The launch was held on October 7, 2026, under the theme “Building an Inclusive, Equitable and Resilient Ghana: From Legislation to Impact.”
The new framework is intended to strengthen the coordination, accountability and delivery of social protection programmes, particularly for poor and vulnerable households. The Social Protection Act provides the legal foundation for a coordinated national system, while the accompanying regulations establish mechanisms for its implementation.
Ghana already operates major social protection interventions, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme and the Ghana School Feeding Programme. The new framework is expected to improve the coordination and targeting of such interventions and strengthen support for people facing poverty, vulnerability and social or economic risks.
The Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Regulations, 2026, meanwhile, provide a framework for implementing the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), with the aim of advancing gender equity and inclusion and creating greater opportunities for women.
Speaking at the launch, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang emphasised the importance of ensuring that vulnerable households can access appropriate support and that public resources reach the people for whom they are intended. She also stressed the need to move beyond legislation and ensure that the new framework produces tangible improvements in people’s lives.
The Vice President commended the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Parliament, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, development partners and other stakeholders for their contributions towards establishing the new legal framework.
She also expressed appreciation to Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye for her significant contribution to the process.
The launch marks a further step in Ghana’s efforts to build a more coordinated and inclusive social protection system. However, the effectiveness of the new laws will ultimately depend on their implementation and the extent to which they translate into meaningful support, greater inclusion and improved opportunities for vulnerable groups and women across the country.