CRS REGIONAL DIRECTOR PAYS COURTESY CALL ON GENDER MINISTER

The Regional Director of Central and Western Africa of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Mr. Jude-Marie Bannatte led a delegation to pay a working visit to the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey.

The engagement focused on strengthening partnerships between CRS and the Ministry in areas that align with the Ministry’s mandate, particularly women’s empowerment, social protection, and skills development. CRS works extensively in the areas of health, education, water, livelihood empowerment, and social services, with a goal of transforming lives and ensuring dignity for vulnerable groups, especially women and children.

Welcoming the delegation, the Minister commended CRS for its longstanding contribution to Ghana’s social development agenda and underscored the importance of collaboration in tackling pressing social issues. She noted that initiatives in education, mental health, and women’s empowerment resonate strongly with the Ministry’s work and provide avenues for joint action.

A key issue discussed was the phenomenon of head porters (Kayayei), particularly the vulnerability of young women who migrate from rural communities to urban centers in search of non-existent jobs. The Minister emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to providing skills training and livelihood opportunities in communities as a preventive measure.

” If we are able to equip young women with employable skills right in their communities, we can help them build sustainable livelihoods and reduce the need for them to travel to the cities where many end up in difficult conditions,” she stated

Mr. Bannatte assured the Minister of CRS’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry to design targeted programmes that focus on capacity building, economic empowerment, and community resilience, particularly for women and youth. He highlighted CRS’s track record of empowering women through initiatives in health, education, and livelihood support, and expressed optimism about expanding these efforts in Ghana through strategic partnerships.

The visit concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared vision of empowering women, protecting children, and building stronger communities through practical, people-centered initiatives.

Source: MoGCSP