Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, says Government is committed to expanding resources and enhancing the social protection system.
“We believe that building a caring society must be deliberate, and that means giving our social services the same attention and investment we give to other sectors,” she said.
Dr Lartey said this at the Graduation Ceremony of the third batch of the Social Services Workforce and Launch of the Diploma in Social Work organised in Accra by the School of Social Work, under the Gender Ministry.
Sixty students graduated from the seven-week Social Services Workforce course.
Dr Lartey said there would be recruitment and training of more social workers and upgrading of institutions like the School of Social Work into centres of excellence
She said there would also be improvements in working conditions, tools and logistics for frontline workforce and expansion of the institutional link between social services and national development priorities.
The Minister described Social Workers as unsung heroes who responded to cases of abuse, supported children, assisted the elderly, and helped families in crisis.
Hence, she called for greater recognition, investment and support for the social service profession, relying on it as a vital component of Ghana’s inclusive future.
Dr Lartey congratulated the graduands, urging them to lead with integrity, uphold social justice, and contribute to nation-building, acknowledging the challenges they may face but also the rewards of transforming lives.
Mr Osama Makkawi Khogali, United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) representative to Ghana, called for the passage of the Social Work Professional Bill, because Ghana needed a legal framework to license, regulate and register professionals.
He assured that UNICEF was committed to supporting the Ministry through a capacity-building strategy for the social service workforce.
GNA