A day Community Dialogue on Social Protection and Social Issues was held in the Amansie Central district of the Ashanti region to create awareness on Social Protection, Gender Equality, Child Protection, Child Marriage and the consequences of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking.
The Dialogue which was organized by the Social Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and ministry of Local government seeks to galvanize the needed support from all Ghanaians in ending Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Child labour and Child Marriage as well as improve the understanding of the community’s roles in the delivery of social protection in the country.
The Dialogue was also created to educate, sensitize and facilitate the free flow of information and feedback which are the pillars that strengthened a democratic governance system.
Participants at the Dialogue include District Assemblies, Traditional leaders, Youth Leaders, Faith-Based Organizations, Women’s Groups and Assembly Members.
Communities visited during the Community Dialogue includes: Fiankoma and Homase
Speaking at the forum
Mr Eugene Nuamah
Snr officer at the ministry Gender children and Social protection
challenged parents to be wary and vigilant of their children’s upkeep and education since they represent the future of Ghana.
He pleaded with parents to desist from giving out or forcing their children into marriage as this have a dire consequences on them and the nation as a whole.
Mr Eugene Nuamah stressed said the domestic violence from the Ghanaian Society, create family cohesion and also to to should be taken off provide protection against domestic violence particularly for women and children for a peaceful environment for national development.
he assets that, Domestic Violence can happen to anyone irrespective of one’s gender and status and it does not discriminate. For families to enjoy their homes and also raise children morally and uprightly,
He tasked parents to create a congenial environment for their children in order for them to grow to become responsible adults. he further stressed that, parents should always monitor and seek their children’s welfare, help them with their home works, communicate with them frequently to find out their needs. he again urged parents to desist from engaging their wards in child labour activities.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE
In her presentation, Mrs Patricia Kyeremateng Berchie Ashanti Regional director of department of social welfare said the Ministry exists to ensure that all Ghanaians have access to social intervention(s) policies which leads them to enjoy a meaningful life.
She added that, government has put measures, mechanisms and systems in place that helps in protecting all Ghanaians to enjoy such Social Protection interventions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme, Labour Intensive Public Works, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty, Free Senior High School, School feeding and and Small Loans Centre and Capitation Grant.
She indicated that, as part of the Ministry’s mandate to ensure all Ghanaians have access to quality healthcare ,identified persons who are poor and vulnerable and are automatically enrolled them them should be taken out unto the NHIS.
On School Feeding, he said, the policy was introduced by government to increase school enrollment, attendance and retention and that there was no need for any child to be left at home since government is feeding and also taking care of their fees through the Capitation Grant Module.
Touching on the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty, Mrs Patricia Kyeremateng Berchie Ablor said the intervention set up by the Government of Ghana is meant for extremely poor and vulnerable households in Ghana.
She advised persons all and sundry present especially the aged to take advantage of these Social Protection Programmes to better their lives. Or make their lives better
In all, participants from the district were happy for the timely dialogue and enlightenment. They called for such eye opening education frequently.