By Daniel Agbesi Latsu, GNA
Kadjebi (O/R), Sept. 08, GNA – International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana has opened a five-day capacity-building workshop for social welfare officers in the Oti Region to strengthen their knowledge and skills in child protection and case management.
The workshop, which commenced on September 07, at Kadjebi, is being attended by two officers each from the nine districts in the region.
Mrs Vida Mamle-Selorm Hodinyah, Social Services Manager, IJM Ghana, in a welcome address, said the workshop formed part of the organisation’s ongoing partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and other stakeholders to enhance professional knowledge and improve the protection of vulnerable children and families.
She said the training would focus on the Human Trafficking Law, trauma-informed care, alternative care, performance management, case management practices and coordinated responses to cases involving vulnerable children and families.
Mrs Mamle-Selorm Hodinyah said the participants would have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of key child protection issues, share experiences from the field, learn from one another, and acquire practical skills to enhance their daily work.
She said their participation demonstrated their commitment to serving vulnerable children and families and ensuring that they received the protection, care and support they deserved.
“As professionals, you play a critical role in safeguarding the rights and well-being of children. You are often the first point of contact for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, violence or exploitation,” she said.
Mrs Mamle-Selorm Hodinyah said the impact of their work went beyond individual cases, contributing to safer communities and a stronger child protection system.
She said IJM believed that sustainable protection for children could be achieved when government systems were strengthened and adequately equipped to respond effectively to cases of abuse and violence.
Mrs Mamle-Selorm Hodinyah encouraged participants to actively participate in the sessions, engage in open discussions and exchange ideas, noting that each participant brought valuable knowledge and experience to the workshop.
She called for the creation of protective environments where every child could live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, while families had access to the services and support needed to thrive.
Mr Innocent Komla Agbolosu, Oti Regional Director, Department of Social Welfare, urged participants to open up and listen attentively to the facilitators, describing the training as an opportunity to refresh and update their knowledge.
He encouraged them to actively participate in discussions, make meaningful contributions, and share the knowledge acquired with colleagues when they returned to their respective offices.
Mr Agbolosu commended IJM for its continued support to the Department of Social Welfare and its efforts to strengthen child protection services in the region.
Mr Andrews Dodzi Adugu, Senior State Attorney and Focal Person for Prosecution of Human Trafficking for the Volta and Oti Regions, said human trafficking was an organised crime that required coordinated efforts among relevant institutions to combat it effectively.
He urged the participants to critically interrogate cases brought before them and avoid rushing to judgment when dealing with alleged trafficking and other child protection cases.
Mr Adugu also encouraged them to strengthen collaboration with the Police Service and other relevant institutions to ensure effective investigation, referral and management of cases.
The workshop is expected to equip the social welfare officers with practical knowledge and skills to improve the identification, assessment, referral and management of child protection and human trafficking cases in the Oti Region.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Kenneth Odeng Adade