DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZES TOWN HALL MEETING TO COMMEMORATE 2023 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE FAMILY

On Monday 15th May 2023, the Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana and Christian Relief Service Ghana, organized a walk and Town Hall Meeting to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Family.

The event dubbed; ‘Families and New Technologies’, was aimed at creating awareness on the new technologies in relating to families and development.

Its purpose was also to promote parental responsibilities and child protection, sensitize the District on the importance of the family in the lives of individuals and increase knowledge of the impact of technologies on Social and Economic processes on families.

In a keynote address read on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Deputy Minister for MoGCSP, Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah expressed her gratitude to the development partners for their immense support to the Ministry of Gender.

According to the Deputy Minister, it is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the pace of digital transformation and boosted technologies which brought about social and economic benefits to families.

‘Now more families have multi-functional devices for inter-personal communication, created jobs, and transacting business’, she added.

Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah therefore lauded the Government for playing a leading role in driving new technologies and digitalization as part of its plan to establish Ghana as a top African digital ecosystem.

She admonished all to take care of their children, support their families and guide them with the use of technologies whilst educating them on the dangers associated with it.

In statement read on behalf of the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakariah, the Director for the Department of Social Welfare, Rev. Dr. Comfort Asare stated that this year’s theme highlights the significance of embracing existing and emerging new technologies to enhance good family life in Ghana.

She advised participants to encourage the use of emerging technologies positively in their families and to remain united to ensure their survival.

Solidarity messages from development partners (UNICEF and CRS Ghana) emphasized on their commitment to sustaining the strategic partnership and collaboration with MoGCSP for long term benefits to families and citizens.

The International Day of Families was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 through resolution A/RES/47/237. Since then, on the 15th of May every year the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection raise awareness about family-related issues and deepen the understanding of the socio-economic and demographic factors affecting families worldwide.

Source: MoGCSP