The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection is facing mounting public anger over what many describe as “selective empathy” in its handling of national tragedies involving children.
The criticism stems from the Ministry’s delayed reaction to the July 28, 2025, road accident that claimed the lives of 15 schoolchildren. While news of the tragedy dominated headlines and social media for days, an official statement from the Ministry, led by Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, was only issued 11 days later — on August 8.
This slow response has drawn sharp comparisons to the Ministry’s swifter reaction to another tragedy just days later, in which eight people died. Critics argue that the urgency shown in the latter case exposes an inconsistency in how the Ministry prioritises victims.
On social media, many Ghanaians have questioned whether the Ministry fully understands its mandate to protect children’s welfare. Some are calling for the dismissal of Dr. Lartey, while others are demanding a complete overhaul of the Ministry’s communications unit, accusing it of failing to monitor developments and respond appropriately.
“The Ministry cannot pick and choose which tragedies deserve empathy and which do not,” one concerned citizen wrote online. “When children die in such numbers, there should be no delay in showing compassion and support.”
Advocates say the episode highlights a deeper problem of responsiveness in state agencies tasked with protecting the most vulnerable — and warn that unless attitudes change, public trust in such institutions will continue to erode.
