General News of 2026-09-08
Social protection is a critical pillar of national development – Gender Minister
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has engaged residents of Tema Manhean and Bankuman to strengthen community participation in social protection programmes and address social challenges affecting vulnerable groups.
The engagement, held on Monday, September 7, 2026, formed part of a Community Dialogue Series organised by the Ministry’s Social Protection Directorate in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS).
Addressing the communities, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said community participation was essential to ensuring that government’s social protection interventions achieved their intended objectives.
“Government’s social protection interventions constitute a critical pillar of national development,” she said, stressing the need for collaboration among government institutions, local authorities, community leaders and residents.
Dr Lartey said challenges such as drug abuse, child neglect and youth unemployment required collective action, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building an inclusive and resilient society where no one was left behind.
She urged residents to speak freely about the challenges confronting their communities, share their experiences and offer practical recommendations to help shape policies and interventions.
The Minister also encouraged citizens to use the Single Window Citizen Engagement Service (SWECES) through the toll-free numbers 0800-800-800 and 0800-900-900, as well as the Orange Support Line on 0800-111-222.
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“These platforms provide avenues for citizens to seek information, report grievances and access support,” she said.
The Mayor of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Ebi Bright, also underscored the importance of the engagement and encouraged residents of Tema Manhean and Bankuman to actively participate in government programmes.
She urged residents to work closely with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure that social protection interventions reached their intended beneficiaries.
“Communities have an important role to play in ensuring that social protection interventions achieve their intended objectives,” she indicated.
Officials from the Ministry and other stakeholders used the engagement to educate residents on various social protection interventions and social issues, including domestic violence, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, human trafficking and child protection.
They also provided information on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) reassessment exercise.
Discussions further focused on the importance of community involvement in identifying vulnerable households and supporting the effective delivery of social services.
The Ministry said the dialogue formed part of its broader efforts to promote an inclusive, responsive and people-centred social protection system through sustained community engagement and feedback to improve the well-being of individuals, families and households across the country.
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