WORLD BANK DELEGATION CALLS ON MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

A high-level delegation from the World Bank, led by Madam Cornelia M. Tesliuc, Lead Economist on Social Protection and Labour, and Dr. Patrick M.D. Mullen, Program Leader and Lead Specialist for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Their visit, which also served to congratulate the Minister on her appointment, focused on expanding budget support, advancing policy reforms, and accelerating critical programmes such as the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), the Ghana National Household Registry (GNHR), and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative.

During the meeting, the World Bank team reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with the Ministry to ensure the effective implementation of the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP II), particularly its second component which supports Ghana’s social protection interventions.

A key highlight of the discussion was the Social Protection Bill, which, when passed, is expected to strengthen Ghana’s legal framework for social welfare programmes. The World Bank delegation expressed optimism about the bill’s impact, emphasizing that its passage would be a major step toward ensuring sustainable social protection interventions for vulnerable populations.

The Sector Minister underscored the government’s unwavering focus on social protection, stating that the President has prioritized reducing poverty and vulnerability as a national agenda.

“It is the President’s vision that poverty and vulnerability in Ghana are reduced to the lowest minimum. Social protection is not just a government programme—it is a lifeline for millions of Ghanaians,” she said.

She further disclosed that once the Parliamentary Committee on Gender is constituted, she will engage them, along with key stakeholders, to push for the swift passage of the Social Protection Bill.

She also revealed that the President has committed to decentralizing the GSFP to improve efficiency, ensuring that the programme better serves children and schools across the country.

Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey assured the World Bank delegation of her open-door policy, emphasizing that she welcomes ongoing engagement and partnerships to enhance social protection efforts.

She also pledged to ensure that projects under GPSNP II are executed efficiently and on time. Heads of key implementing units—LEAP, GSFP, and GNHR—who were present at the meeting provided updates on their respective programmes and outlined strategies for achieving better outcomes.

With renewed backing from the World Bank and strong government leadership, Ghana is poised to deepen its social protection initiatives, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Source: MoGCSP