SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES 5TH COHORT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WORKFORCE TRAINEES

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its School of Social Work, has successfully held a closing ceremony for the 5th cohort of the Social Services Workforce Training Programme.

The ceremony marked the culmination of weeks of intensive training aimed at equipping participants with the requisite knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding to effectively deliver social protection services across the country.

In opening remarks delivered on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Marian W. A. Kpakpah commended the trainees for their dedication and commitment throughout the programme. She urged them to apply the knowledge acquired to positively impact lives at the grassroots level.

She stressed that social work is not just about roads, buildings, and economic indicators but about people’s dignity and development. “It is about making sure no individual slips through the cracks, no family is abandoned, and no community feels invisible,” she added.

Sounding a note of caution, the Chief Director emphasized that social workers should not wait for the system to be perfect before delivering effectively on the job, rather, they should work to improve the systems they inherited because systems do not transform communities, people do.

Addressing participants at the event, the Principal of the School of Social Work, Madam Yvonne Norman, underscored the critical role of a well-trained social service workforce in addressing emerging social issues within communities. She urged the officers to go into their fields of work as people who intend to solve problems, and not merely as people who have completed a course.

Representing UNICEF, Child Protection Specialist Young Joo Lee indicated that social work is one of the toughest yet most important profession because it plays a critical role in the development of the country. She reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to continuous capacity building as a cornerstone for effective social protection delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the student body, a student representative stated that they are committed to applying the knowledge and skills acquired to improve the lives of vulnerable people and to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Certificates were presented to participants who successfully completed the programme, signifying their readiness to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s social services workforce.

The event was highlighted by remarks from partner institutions as well.

Source: MoGCSP