The Department of Children, in collaboration with the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, organized an end-of-year child protection sector meeting and capacity-building summit at Dambai. The one-day workshop aimed to provide updates on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection's (MoGCSP) 2023 performance and the social sector's status.
Stakeholders gathered at the Oti Regional Coordinating Council conference centre to discuss and contribute ideas to enhance existing social protection interventions. The focus was on improving outreach to vulnerable groups in the region and the nation as a whole.
The Volta Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Mrs. Thywill Eyra Kpe, led the committee through the Gender-Transformative Acceleration (GTA) Tool for ending child marriage. The GTA Tool is a rapid analysis and action planning tool to prevent and respond to early child and forced marriages and unions.
Mr. Christopher Lartey, a principal program officer and social policy analyst, presented advocacy materials on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). The materials covered various forms of sexual abuse, emphasizing the need for awareness and prevention.
Mr. Innocent Komla Agbolosu, the Oti Regional Director of Social Welfare, highlighted challenges such as the lack of vehicles hindering the smooth implementation of planned activities. He also mentioned network connectivity issues affecting the entry of cases into the Social Welfare Information Manager Service (SWIMS).
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Agbolosu appealed for support, including the provision of vehicles for district officers and addressed network connectivity challenges.
Mr. Israel Akrobortu, the Volta Regional Director of the Department of Children, emphasized the Ministry's commitment to strengthening the policy and legal environment for gender equality and child welfare in the Volta and Oti Regions.
Mr. Issaka Braimah Basintale, the Chief Director of the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, commended partners and stakeholders for their contributions in the fight for the well-being of the poor and vulnerable in the country. He encouraged a renewed commitment to children's rights and well-being to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030.