By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Dachio (U/E), June 17, GNA – Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has reiterated that social protection remains an indispensable tool for achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
She emphasised that countries that had successfully reduced poverty and inequality did so through deliberate investments in robust social protection systems and programmes.
“Social protection is an indispensable tool for achieving sustainable development across the world. Nations that have made significant progress in reducing poverty and inequality have done so by investing in robust social protection systems that protect vulnerable populations and empower citizens to participate fully in socio-economic life,” she said.
The Minister said this in a speech read on her behalf by Ms Francisca Atuluk, Director of Social Protection at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, during a community dialogue on social protection and other social issues held in Dachio, a suburb of the Bolgatanga East District.
Dr Lartey said the Government remained committed to ensuring that every Ghanaian had the opportunity to live a life of dignity free from extreme deprivation and exclusion.
The Minister said the Government’s commitment was demonstrated through the passage of the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), which provides a legal framework for coordinating and delivering social protection services across the country.
She described the Act as a landmark instrument that would help build a more inclusive and resilient society where no one was left behind.
Dr Lartey acknowledged that despite Ghana’s progress in reducing poverty and improving access to social services, many women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities continued to face poverty, exclusion, and other forms of vulnerability.
She said the Government was therefore strengthening social protection interventions and bringing them closer to communities through public engagement, sensitisation, and advocacy.
According to her, available data indicated that many people, particularly those in rural and hard-to-reach communities, had limited access to information about programmes and services designed to improve their livelihoods and wellbeing.
She said the Government was therefore, collaborating with traditional authorities, faith-based organisations, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, development partners, and the media to ensure that social protection interventions reached those who needed them most.
The Minister highlighted several interventions being implemented by the Government, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, the School Feeding Programme, disability support initiatives, free sanitary pads for schoolgirls, free primary healthcare, the “No Fees Stress” policy for tertiary students, and the recently introduced Mahama Cares initiative, to help uplift vulnerable people from poverty and exclusion.
Mr Frank Kwame Kontoh, Senior Programmer at the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service, explained that the dialogue was intended to equip communities with information on the various social protection interventions and the knowledge needed to access them for development.
Mr Jacob Abugri Aka-Eri, the Bolgatanga East District Chief Executive, described social protection as a critical tool for restoring dignity, promoting inclusion, and reducing inequalities.
He said challenges such as teenage pregnancy, child marriage, domestic violence, substance abuse, school dropout, and economic vulnerability continued to affect many households in the district and required collective action.
The DCE said the district currently had 126 beneficiary households under the LEAP programme and appealed for an expansion of social protection interventions to cover more vulnerable people.
He commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and its partners for organising the dialogue and pledged the Assembly’s support towards the successful implementation of social protection programmes in the district.
Naba Thomas Akalga II, Chief of Dachio, also commended the Ministry, noting that the dialogue had enhanced community awareness on social protection issues and avenues for seeking redress.
As part of activities marking the event, residents were registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) free of charge to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable persons.
The dialogue brought together government officials, traditional leaders, community members, development partners, and civil society organisations to discuss social protection interventions and other pressing social issues, including domestic violence, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, human trafficking, and illicit drug abuse.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]