MoGCSP HOLDS NATIONAL VALIDATION WORKSHOP

The Social Protection Directorate under the Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection (MoGCSP) with support from the Ghana Employment and Social Protection (GESP) on Thursday 3rd June, 2021 organized the National Validation Workshop of the Framework for Coordination of Social Protection in Ghana.

The essence of the workshop was to validate the draft coordination framework on the establishment of the Social Protection structures at the sub-national level and also agree on the roles and responsibilities of all partners at all levels.

The Ministry has developed and is implementing a National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) which seeks to provide the framework for the delivery of social protection in a coherent, sustainable and well-targeted manner.

The framework prescribes among other things, the need for robust institutional structures at all levels (national to community) to facilitate harmonization and effective coordination and collaboration in the implementation and delivery of Ghana’s social protection and poverty reduction agenda.

Addressing participants, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo stated that the Government of Ghana has developed and implemented a range of poverty reduction interventions aimed at reducing poverty, vulnerability, inclusivity and sustainable social and economic growth in recent years.

She explained that the fight against endemic poverty and its related vulnerabilities require robust institutional structures to facilitate harmonization and effective coordination. Hence government’s, commitment at implementing the national social protection policy.

“The policy prescribes effective institutional oversight, coordination and partnerships that guarantees successful and sustainable implementation of social protection programmes and systems.” She stressed.

Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo further stated that Social Protection (SP) framework will build human capital, improve livelihoods and support economic growth.

The Chief Director for the MoGCSP, Dr. Afisah Zakariah in her welcome address said Social Protection has proven to be a very essential vehicle to achieving sustainable growth and development. She noted that the framework will guide the coordination, collaboration and complementarity of social protection programmes in Ghana.

“The objective of this framework will lead to a well-established structure for coordination across all levels and also ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities of all partners as envisage in the national protection policy document.” she stressed.

Since the establishment of the MoGCSP in 2013 by the Executive Instrument (E.I. 1) and mandated to lead the coordination, harmonization, monitoring and evaluation of social protection interventions in Ghana, the government has developed and implemented several social protection interventions aimed at reducing poverty, vulnerability and ensuring inclusion and sustainable social and economic growth. Among these interventions include Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW), Exempt Category of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), School Feeding Programme and Education Capitation Grants among others.

SOURCE: MoGCSP