SPD CONVENES 30TH SOCIAL PROTECTION SECTOR WORKING GROUP (SPSWG) MEETING TO STRENGTHEN COORDINATION

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through its Social Protection Directorate, has convened the 30th Session of the Social Protection Sector Working Group (SPSWG) Meeting in Accra.

Held on Thursday, 16th April 2026, the purpose of the meeting was to review progress on recommendations from previous SPSWG sessions.

It also aimed to update stakeholders on key policy developments in the social protection ecosystem and to initiate discussions on emerging issues that will strengthen the coordination of social protection systems in the country.

In her opening remarks on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, also the Chairperson of the SPSWG, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Marian W. A. Kpakpah, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration in enhancing the effectiveness of social protection interventions. She noted that the SPSWG platform plays a critical role in aligning policies, improving programme delivery, and ensuring that vulnerable populations are adequately supported.

Touching on the enactment of the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), Dr. Kpakpah disclosed that the Ministry has developed a Legislative Instrument to operationalise and clarify its provisions. She added that the instrument has been submitted to Parliament and is undergoing the statutory maturation process, and is expected to come into force by June 2026.

She assured participants of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to building a social protection system that is inclusive, adaptive, and responsive to the needs of all Ghanaians.

Dr. Kpakpah commended the Co-Chair, development partners, civil society organisations, and all stakeholders for their continuous support. She urged all participants to actively engage in the discussions and contribute towards a successful meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director of the Social Protection Directorate, Madam Francisca Atuluk, reminded stakeholders that the reason for gathering is to drive a structural shift from fragmented interventions to a disciplined, integrated, and nationally owned system that delivers results at scale. “We now have the legal foundation, the data, and the policy direction. What is required is alignment, clarity of purpose, and decisive action,” she added.

In a show of solidarity, the Chief of Social Policy and Inclusion at UNICEF Ghana, also the Co-Chair of the meeting, Madam Paulina Sarvilahti, stressed the critical role of social protection in addressing poverty, inequality, and vulnerability, particularly among children, women, and persons with disabilities. She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s social protection agenda, emphasizing the need for stronger, more inclusive, and shock-responsive systems to protect vulnerable populations.

The session provided an opportunity for various stakeholders to present updates on the LEAP Programme Re-assessment, the GNHR scale-up, an overview of the National Shock Responsive Social Protection Strategy, and the Action Plan on LEAP beneficiaries graduating and exiting from the programme, among others.

The engagement provided an avenue for stakeholders to align priorities, exchange knowledge, and identify strategies to strengthen resilience and service delivery.

The Social Protection Sector Working Group meeting remains a key platform for policy dialogue and coordination, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and promoting social equity.

Source: MoGCSP