Accra, May 27, GNA — Dr Afisah Zakariah, Chief Director, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has inaugurated a 15-member Social Protection Inter-Sectoral Technical Sub-Committee (SPiSTC) on Case Management in Accra.
The SPiTC is a key institutional structure established and operationalised by the Ministry to ensure effective and efficient coordination and timely resolution of grievances within the of social protection arena in the country.
The Sub-Committee members are the Director, Social Protection, Head, Single Window Citizens Engagement Service (SWCES), Ghana Education Service (Education Capitation Grant), Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) Secretariat, Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (Labour Intensive Public Works), Ghana National Household Registry and Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations,
Others are Domestic Violence Secretariat, Director, Department of Social Welfare Legal Aid Commission, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, Anti-Human trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, National Health Insurance, LEAP Management Secretariat and Civil Society Organisations Platform for Social Protection.
The Sub-Committee is under the Secretariat of the Single Window Citizens Engagement Service (SWCES), a unit under the Social Protection Directorate of MoGCSP set up to coordinate and streamline social protection related grievance redress to achieve efficiency and value for money.
SWCES was expanded to receive complaints related to other social issues that are within the mandate of the Ministry.
Dr Zakariah underscored the need for a strong inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration as well as a robust grievance redress system among others to enhance inclusive socio-economic growth and development.
She said social protection had become a reliable and strategic element in addressing poverty and its related vulnerabilities and proven to be effective in bridging the inequality gap.
The Chief Director said however, due to the complex nature in addressing poverty and vulnerability, adopting a collective and holistic approach had always been recommended by experts.
‘‘The Ministry is therefore implementing a National Social Protection Policy (2015) which outlines institutional oversight, coordination, and partnerships for sustainable implementation of Social Protection interventions in Ghana,’’ she said.
Dr Zakariah said the Policy also made provision for robust grievance handling and feedback mechanism at all levels for effective implementation of social protection interventions in the country, hence the establishment of SWCES.
To support the work of the SPISTC, specialised sub-committees have been established under the SPiSTC to undertake specific assignments, including Finance and Budgeting, Social Protection Bill, Gender and Disability, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
She said the Sub-Committees have over the years contributed massively towards the mandate and objectives of the SPISTC.
The Chief Director commended the Sub-Committee members for their enormous contributions and efforts towards promoting and protecting the welfare of the poor and vulnerable.
Dr Rita Owusu-Amankwah, the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee, assured the Ministry that members would work hard to address social protection cases on time.
GNA