In a bid to strengthen social protection and address pressing social challenges, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) through its Social Protection Directorate organised a one-day community dialogue in the Ada East District. The event aimed to enhance community ownership and galvanise support for the implementation of social protection initiatives at the grassroots level.
The dialogue provided a platform to sensitise residents on critical social issues, including gender-based violence, human trafficking, abuse of illicit drugs, child marriage, and teenage pregnancy—all of which perpetuate vulnerability and poverty, particularly among children, women, and the elderly in rural communities.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Madam Francisca Atuluk, Director of the Social Protection Directorate, emphasised the significance of community engagement in shaping social protection interventions. She noted that “social protection is not merely policy; it embodies compassion, equity, and human dignity. It ensures that no one is left behind, and everyone has the opportunity to live free from poverty, insecurity, and despair.”
Madam Atuluk highlighted the recently enacted Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), and disclosed that President His Excellency John Dramani Mahama will, in August, streamline social protection programmes and policies within the national development agenda. She further revealed that the Ministry is finalising the National Shock Responsive Social Protection Strategy, designed to anticipate, prepare for, and respond effectively to social and economic shocks.
She urged participants to actively engage, express their views, and contribute to building a society where social protection is recognised as a fundamental human right.
Nene Kabutey Assem III, the representative of the Paramount Chief and chairperson of the event, welcomed the initiative, commending MoGCSP for bringing the conversation closer to the grassroots. He encouraged all participants to share experiences, highlight challenges, and provide suggestions on improving the delivery of social protection programmes in the district.
During the dialogue, residents were taken through key government social protection initiatives, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and the National Health Insurance Scheme, with provisions for free registration for eligible indigenes.
The event brought together community leaders, local authorities, civil society organisations, school children, and residents to deliberate on social protection interventions and pressing social challenges affecting vulnerable individuals and households in the district.
This programme forms part of MoGCSP’s broader strategy to strengthen community participation, promote inclusive social development, and ensure social protection interventions meet the real needs of citizens at the grassroots level.
