The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) through the Department of Social Welfare with support from UNICEF Ghana & USAID – US Agency for International Development, on Tuesday 6th July, 2021, launched Training Manuals and other Documents purposely developed to address child protection issues in Ghana.
The policy documents were developed by the Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service and the Judicial Service.
Speaking at the launch on behalf of the sector minister, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry, Hon. Hajia Lariba Abudu, indicated that efforts have been made through several strategies to address challenges associated with the well-being of children, children at risk of separation and the need to strengthen alternative care options which promote family-based care.
“These policies being launched today will provide new guidance and instructions on how Probation Officers should carry out their work in the best interest of children and youth who come into contact or in conflict with the law”. She noted.
The Deputy Minister observed that the implementation of the five-year road map for the de-institutionalization of all children in Ghana and the closing of all sub-standard residential care facilities will go a long way to address the unnecessary separation of children from their families in Ghana.
The documents launched includes: Training Manual for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities, Guidelines for De institutionalization of Residential Homes for Children, Probation Desk amongst others.
Addressing participants at the launch, the Chief Director for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Afisah Zakariah noted that guidelines outlined in the policy documents will to care and protect all children, including children with disabilities and children in contact and conflict with the law.
The Chief Director urged stakeholders and other relevant agencies to make good use of the documents to improve the child protection systems in Ghana Dr. Afisah Zakariah thanked UNICEF and USAID for their technical support in developing the policy documents Speaking at the launch on behalf of the sector minister, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu, indicated that efforts have been made through several strategies to address challenges associated with the well-being of children, children at risk of separation and the need to strengthen alternative care options which promote family-based care.
Dr. Comfort Asare, Ag. Director for the Department of Social Welfare briefed stakeholders on the policy documents launched. The documents launched includes: Training Manual for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities, Guidelines for De institutionalization of Residential Homes for Children, Probation Desk amongst others.