Govt commits to social protection programmes
Residents of the Krowor Municipality (Nungua) in the Greater Accra Region have benefitted from a one-day National Social Protection and Community Dialogue organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The event was aimed at creating awareness of critical social issues such as illicit drug abuse, domestic violence, child labour, teenage pregnancy, child marriage and human trafficking.
The dialogue also served as a platform to educate community members on key government interventions, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, youth empowerment initiatives and other support systems available to vulnerable individuals and families.
As part of the programme, sanitary pads were donated to schoolchildren, while eligible residents also benefited from free NHIS registration and renewal services aimed at reducing financial barriers to healthcare access.
Attendance
Last Friday’s event brought together participants from the Krowor Municipal Assembly, the Department of Social Welfare, the Office of the Local Government Service, traditional authorities, market women, widows and schoolchildren.
In attendance were the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Krowor, Paul Afotey Quaye, the General Administrator of the Gender Ministry, Ebenezer Charway, and a representative from Office of the Local Government Service, Ebenezer Addy.
Commitment
Addressing participants, Dr Lartey reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that government social protection policies and programmes directly benefitted vulnerable people and communities.
She stated that as Minister, she remained dedicated to making sure that government interventions reached those who needed them the most, particularly poor households, older persons, persons with disabilities, women and children facing hardships.
"Today's programme is particularly significant because it brings government closer to the people.
Social protection is not an abstract policy concept. It is about people, it is about dignity, it is about ensuring that no child goes hungry, no older person is abandoned, no person with disability is excluded and no vulnerable household is left behind in difficult times," the Gender and Social Protection Minister said.
Dr Lartey, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Krowor, stated that access to healthcare was a fundamental pillar of social protection and human dignity.
She pointed out that many vulnerable people delayed seeking medical treatment because they could not afford it, emphasising that “no family should have to choose between health care and survival.”
Dr Lartey urged older persons, pregnant women, persons with disabilities and low-income households to take advantage of the initiative.
She described social protection as an investment in human dignity, social stability and national development rather than charity and called for stronger collaboration between government, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and citizens to build resilient communities where no one would be left behind.
Tackling social challenges
A representative from the Local Government Service, who spoke on behalf of the Head of the Service, Professor Lord Mensah, emphasised the importance of community engagement in addressing social protection and social development issues.
Mr Addy also highlighted growing social concerns, including illicit drug abuse, domestic violence, child labour, teenage pregnancy, child marriage and human trafficking, stressing the need for awareness and collective action to address them.
He stated that the Local Government Service believed that community participation, collaboration with authorities and active citizen involvement were essential to improving livelihood and promoting inclusive development.
Agents of change
For his part, the Krowor MCE underscored the need for all stakeholders, including assembly staff, traditional leaders, students and community groups, to become agents of change within their communities.
Mr Quaye gave an assurance that more residents in the municipality were expected to benefit from the LEAP programme under the leadership of the MP for the area.
