Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) in collaboration with Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA), convened a High-Level Stakeholder Engagement aimed at strengthening investment and leadership for maternal and child nutrition in Ghana. The engagement brought together key national actors, including Members of the Parliament of Ghana, civil society organizations, academia, and representatives of the media.
The meeting focused on the theme: “Strategies to catalyse high-level political and financial commitment towards meeting Ghana’s Nutrition for Growth (N4G) targets, with special emphasis on ensuring sustainable domestic financing for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and other essential maternal and child nutrition interventions.” Discussions underscored the urgent need for coordinated and sustained action to address persistent nutrition challenges affecting women and children across the country.
Through interactive discussions, participants shared valuable insights on the current state of maternal and child nutrition in Ghana, highlighting both progress made and gaps that require urgent attention. A strong call emerged for increased government and parliamentary leadership to prioritize nutrition within national development agendas. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen nutrition-related policies and address systemic challenges that continue to undermine effective service delivery.
Particular emphasis was placed on the critical role of Parliament, especially the relevant parliamentary committees, including the Health Committee. Engaging parliamentarians was identified as a key strategy to drive political ownership, improve oversight, and secure sustainable domestic financing for nutrition interventions, including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF).
The engagement also recognized that addressing maternal and child nutrition challenges requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach. Participants highlighted the importance of strategic media partnerships to amplify advocacy efforts, sustained policy engagement with lawmakers, and community-level mobilization to build public support and accountability.
At the close of the meeting, participants agreed on the need for continued engagement with Parliament. As a concrete next step, the meeting resolved to submit a formal request to the Chair of the relevant parliamentary committee, seeking a dedicated session to further discuss nutrition financing and policy priorities.
The High-Level Stakeholder Engagement reaffirmed the collective commitment WOMEC, and partners to advancing maternal and child nutrition in Ghana through strengthened leadership, sustained investment, and inclusive, multi-sectoral collaboration.
