The Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, has called on the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to organise a national social protection dialogue.
She is confident such a meeting of great minds will identify sustainable financing mechanisms, and unlock innovative ideas to tighten the delivery of Ghana’s social protection agenda so that nobody is left out.
The Chief of Staff believes the programme if organized will also generate stakeholder commitment and explore sustainable public-private partnerships.
Speaking at the 2021 UG Alumni Lecture, at Legon, under the theme: “Social Protection In Ghana: Are We On Track?” Osei-Opare underscored Ghana’s pursuit of strong social protection agenda for the vulnerable that increasingly guarantees provision for good healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, and support for persons with disability.
According to her, the country has broken the barriers to basic education for all through the introduction of the capitation grant by the Kufuor administration in 2003. We have broken the barriers to secondary education for all through the Free SHS programme by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration from 2017.
“Now, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers can receive good healthcare through the Free Maternal Child healthcare policy introduced in 2008 by the Kufuor Administration. Now, a person with disability knows that government would provide opportunity for education, social participation and economic empowerment opportunities through the operationalisation of the PWD 2006, Act 715 and the DACF support.” she noted
The Chief of Staff added: “Many households in extreme poor conditions can have access to a comprehensive social support including cash grant to support consumption through LEAP as introduced in 2008, good healthcare for the indigents through the NHIS as introduced in 2003. Most children in public schools now receive one hot meal a day and through the commitment of our President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo we can look forward to the very near future where every child who goes to a public school would be fed through the school feeding programme.”
The former Legislator said Ghana is steadily working towards a comprehensive and universal social protection programme which is a requisite safeguard and a pedal to accelerate sustainable development.
According to her, this would guarantee that as much as possible, all members of society irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, geographical location, education, disability and status in society to live dignified lives.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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