The Department of Gender has undergone several transformations over the years. In 1975, the government by NRC Decree 322 established the National Council for Women and Development, NCWD. The government was convinced that the NCWD was necessary if women were to enjoy equal economic, social, political, cultural rights with men.

The Council was formally inaugurated on the 21st of April 1975 by the then Head of State and Chairman of the National Redemption Council late General I.K Acheampong.
The National Women’s Machinery during its existence as the NCWD, promoted gender equality and maintained a lead role in the fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The NCWD became the Department of Women, following the creation of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. In 2013, the Department of Gender was created by an Executive Instrument (E.I.), 2013 as a successor to the Department of Women. The Department of Gender (DoG) is responsible for the implementation of policies for the promotion of gender mainstreaming across all sectors.

Vision

“Empowered women in a developed Ghana”

Mission

Department of Gender exists to implement programmes and projects in relation to women’s rights and empowerment through advocacy, research and education by networking and collaborating with partners and stakeholders; working with a well resourced and cherished team to offer client focused services.

Functions

The functions of the Department are to:

• Implement policies, programmes, projects and plans of the sector Ministry;
• Monitor and evaluate both the processes and impact of plans and programmes;
• Collaborate and network with MDAs, NGOs and CBOs to improve and enhance the socio-economic status and circumstances of women;
• Undertake research towards improving the well-being of women;
• Provide referral and on the spot counseling services;
• Comply with Ghana’s international obligations and ensure their integration into the development process; and
• Collect and compile documentation that contributes to the body of knowledge on gender and development

Objectives

The objectives of the Department are to:

• Coordinate and implement programmes and activities that seek to promote the welfare of women;
• Ensure women’s promotion in all sectors of national development;
• Collaborate with stakeholders and development partners to integrate gender issues into national development;
• Implement government policies and plans that relate to women;
• Comply with Ghana International obligation relating to women; and
• Design and carry out research on issues of women to enhance knowledge and incorporate it into national development

The Department of Social Welfare was a department under the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare. The enactment of Executive Instrument (E.I, 2013) re-aligned Ministries, Departments and Agencies in accordance with directives from the Office of the President to create harmony in the conduct of Government business.

As a result, the Department of Social Welfare became a department under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Its name has been changed to Department of Social Development to reflect its mandate.

Vision

“A socially Developed Ghana where the disadvantaged, vulnerable persons with disabilities and excluded are integrated into mainstream development.”

Mission

The Department of Social Development works in partnership with people in their communities to improve their wellbeing through the promotion of social development with equity for the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, persons with disabilities and the excluded.

Functions

The functions of the Department are to:

• Develop and coordinate community-based rehabilitation programme for persons with disabilities
• Promote access to social welfare services for the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded groups and individuals
• Facilitate opportunities for NGOs to develop social services in collaboration with the communities
• Carry out DSW statutory functions in the field of Children’s Right promotion and protection
• Secure minimum standards of operation of Day Care centers through registration, training and regular inspection under Children’s Act (560) of 1998.
• Provide homes for the homeless, orphaned and abandoned children, and assisting in finding fit persons and foster parents to care for children whose mothers are seriously ill, hospitalized, in severe state of depression, incarcerated in prisons.
• Create awareness on prevention, and provide care and support to OVC and PLWHA in 138 districts.
• Ensure income security among the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme (LEAP).
• Facilitate the adoption of children.
• Promote social, economic and emotional stability in families.

Mandate

The Department of Social Welfare, now Department of Social Development was established in 1946 with a mandate for both social welfare and housing. In 1950, its mandate changed, it was limited to only social welfare. The current mandate of the department is to take the lead in integrating the disadvantaged, vulnerable, persons with disabilities and excluded into mainstream society.
The mandate, role and functions of the Department of Social Development are guided by the following framework:

• 1992 constitution of Ghana
• Executive Instrument (2013)
• Civil Service Act 600 (PNDC law 327)
• Local Ordinance order No. 66
• The Local Government Act 1993 (Act 462),
• Local Government Service Act 2003 (Act 656), & L.I. 1961
• Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560),
• Juvenile Justice Act 2003 (Act 653),
• Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715),
• International Protocols and Conventions (UN Convention on Child Rights, Hague)
• Convention on Inter-Country adoption

BROAD POLICY OBJECTIVES

The broad policy objectives of the Department are as follows:

• Develop targeted social interventions for vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• To provide community based rehabilitation programmes in all communities in the country for persons with disabilities.
• To provide professional social welfare services in all districts to ensure that statutory responsibilities of the Department of Social Development are carried out in the field of justice administration, child rights promotion protection and community care.

 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE DSW OFFICIAL PAGE

The Department of Children has the responsibility of implementing programmes and activities affecting children in Ghana. Its mandate is to improve the welfare and full integration of Children into the development process through advocacy, research and other development projects. This is line with Article 28 of the 1992 Constitution and the Children’s Act which mandate Government to ensure the rights of the child. These legal documents demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to the promotion of the physical, mental and social well-being of the Ghanaian Child. The department works to safeguard these provisions provided by Ghana’s laws.

Vision

“A harmonious society with guaranteed child rights”

Mission

The Department of Children exists to implement programmes and projects for the survival, protection, participation and development of the child through advocacy, research, inputting into policy formulation, networking and collaborating with stakeholders in a well-resourced environment with motivated professional staff.

Functions

The functions of the Department are to:

• Implement policies, programmes, projects and plans of the sector Ministry
• Monitor and evaluate the processes and impacts of plans and programmes
• Collaborate and network with MDAs, MMDAs, NGOs and CBOs to improve and enhance the socio-economic status and circumstances of children
• Undertake research towards improving the wellbeing of children
• Provide referral and on the spot counseling services
• Implement Ghana’s International conventions, treaties and protocols in relation to children’s development

Core Values

Department of Children is guided by the following values:

• Commitment and excellence
• Social Justice, equality and equity
• Transparency and accountability
• Respect and discipline
• Honesty and Integrity
• Confidentiality
• Professionalism

Objectives

• Coordinate programmes and activities that seek to promote the welfare of children
• Partner stakeholders and development agencies to integrate children’s issues into National development
• Implement government policies and plans that relate to children;
• Facilitate compliance with international protocols, conventions and treaties relating to children; and
• Facilitate evidence-based decision making in relation to children’s affairs