The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening social protection interventions to improve the lives of vulnerable persons and families in communities across the country.
Speaking during a community dialogue on social protection held on Friday at the Krowor Municipality in Accra, Dr Lartey said social protection remains an important tool for promoting dignity, inclusion, and national development.
According to her, social protection goes beyond policy discussions and directly impacts the lives of ordinary people, especially vulnerable groups such as children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and low-income households.
She noted that many residents within the municipality continue to face socioeconomic challenges, including rising living costs, unemployment, child neglect, drug abuse among the youth, inadequate access to healthcare, and environmental challenges affecting fishing communities.
“These are real concerns and the government must respond with practical and compassionate interventions,” she said.
Dr Lartey stated that the Ministry continues to strengthen key social protection programmes nationwide, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, the School Feeding Programme, disability support initiatives, and child protection and social welfare services.
She stated that these interventions are designed to reduce poverty, enhance access to education and healthcare, and safeguard vulnerable children and families.
She announced free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration and renewal for eligible residents within the municipality.
She said the initiative, being undertaken in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), seeks to remove financial barriers to healthcare access and ensure that vulnerable persons receive the medical care they need.
“Health is a right, not a privilege, and it is our collective responsibility to make sure no one is left behind,” she added.
She encouraged older persons, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and low-income earners to take advantage of the exercise and enroll onto the NHIS scheme.
She called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, traditional authorities, religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners, and citizens in building resilient and inclusive communities.
She urged residents to actively participate in discussions and contribute ideas that would help improve social protection policies and interventions within the constituency.
She reaffirmed her commitment, to advocating policies and programmes that respond to the needs of the people of Krowor.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Director, the Director of Administration at the Ministry, Mr Ebenezer Charway, noted that the dialogue provides a platform for government institutions, civil society organisations, academia, and community stakeholders to engage constructively on matters of national importance relating to welfare, inclusion, and sustainable development.
He said social protection must therefore be viewed not merely as a policy intervention, but as a national responsibility aimed at safeguarding lives, reducing poverty, promoting equality, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the national development process.
