Osu: The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has emphasized the importance of bolstering child protection measures to empower children to identify abuse and seek assistance when their safety is at risk. She delivered this message during an engagement in Osu, part of the Ministry's Community Dialogue Series in the Greater Accra Region.
According to Ghana Web, the initiative focused on educating pupils from local basic schools about their rights and the appropriate channels for reporting harassment, abuse, and other threats to their wellbeing. Dr Lartey highlighted that protecting vulnerable individuals requires a government that understands community challenges and ensures social protection interventions address these needs effectively.
During the dialogue, Dr Lartey stated, "The community dialogues go beyond informing citizens, providing an opportunity to listen to their concerns and better understand the challenges they face in accessing social protection services." She also urged for the swift prosecution of child exploitation cases, reinforcing the necessity for children to voice their experiences of abuse and harassment through the correct reporting mechanisms.
The session also covered details about the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, informing residents about beneficiary enrolment, eligibility criteria, and the rights and benefits for those enrolled. The event was attended by the Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, alongside the Municipal Chief Executive and other stakeholders.
The Ministry plans to extend the Community Dialogue Series to other areas, aiming to enhance public awareness, improve access to social protection services, and boost community involvement in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.