SENSITIZATION WORKSHOP FOR KEY STAKEHOLDERS AT THE SUB-NATIONAL LEVEL

To strengthen grievance redress and expand the operations of SWCES in selected districts at the sub-national level, the Single Window Citizens Engagement Service ( SWCES) of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection held a two-day Sensitisation workshop for key stakeholders on Monday 9th September 2024 in the Northern Zone.

The purpose of the workshop was to increase awareness of SWCES among stakeholders especially at the districts level, facilitate responses to public queries and grievances related to social protection, and provide feedback to the public.

It was also to strengthen the referral system at the sub-national level by involving the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in the grievance redress system.

Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Afisah Zakariah, the Head of SWCES Unit, Madam Naa-Dedei Antie was emphatic that Social Protection is not just a policy framework but a fundamental right of every citizen.

” Thus is the bedrock on which citizen build inclusive societies where no one is left behind, she added.

Madam Naa-Dedei Antie noted that the success of SP programmes lies on the effectiveness of mechanisms like the SWCES, which ensures that citizens voice out their concerns and seek redress in a timely manner.

She called on all to participate, share experiences, and contribute to the development of strategies that will ensure the success of SWCES.

The Representative from OHLGS Mr. Frank Kwame Kontoh encouraged the participants to get themselves involved in all the activities pertaining to the workshop in order to effectively implement the SWCES programme when they get to their various offices.

On her part, the Representative for the Regional Coordinating Director, Madam Sherifa Gyimah cautioned all to implore new approaches harness on the power of technology to improve public service delivery and enhance quality of life for the citizens in their various communities.

The expansion of SWCES operations at the sub-national level will enable the unit improve on accessibility and inclusivity, empower vulnerable groups, and strengthen grass roots engagement in Social Protection programmes.

Decentralising SWCES will in the end, foster better coordination and collaboration among key stakeholders, enable efficient case management, and data-driven decision making.

The Northern Zone consists of the ( Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and the North East Regions)

In addition to the Northern Zone, similar activities was also carried out in selected districts within the Middle Zone (Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Ashanti Regions) on Thursday 12th September 2024 in Sunyani.

Present to grace the programme at the Middle Zone were the Bono Regional Coordinating Director/ Chief Director, Mr. Andrews Mensah and the Regional Social Welfare Director Mr. Doayah Peter

Source: MoGCSP