WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY 2024

The Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection convened a National Symposium on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra in commemoration of the 2024 World Social Work Day. The symposium, themed “Professionalization of Social Work Practice: A Shared Future for Ghana Transformative Change,” aimed to heighten awareness regarding the significance of professionalizing social work practice and its impact on social development.

Dr. Rev. Mrs. Comfort Asare, representing the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, extended gratitude to UNICEF Ghana and USAID – US Agency for International Development in Ghana for their support in developing legislation to regulate social work practice and elevate it to a recognized profession, aligning with international standards and attracting attention from policymakers. She emphasized that this regulation would prevent the recruitment of untrained individuals into social work roles.

Dr. Comfort Asare commended the dedication of Social Workers and thanked development partners for their commitment to making the world a better place, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Augustina Naami, Head of the Department of Social Work at the University of Ghana, stressed the importance of providing social workers with proper education, training, licensure, and ethical guidelines, urging government and stakeholders to ensure adequate resources to support their work effectively.

Madam Lucia Soleti, Chief Protection Officer of UNICEF Ghana, underscored the need for officers to advocate for the professionalization of social work in Ghana, emphasizing its potential to deliver high-quality services to marginalized individuals and communities. She pledged UNICEF’s ongoing support for this endeavor.

The symposium concluded with the recognition of Dr. Rev. Mrs. Comfort Asare of the Department of Social Welfare and Madam Felicia Dapaah, Chief Director of the Office of the Head Local Government Service, for their significant contributions to the development of social work.

The event, supported by UNICEF Ghana and USAID, brought together Social Workers from various sectors, alongside key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Association Of Social Workers – GASOW, Social Workers Association of Ghana – SWAG, Ghana Journalist Association, Development Partners, Non-Profit Organizations, Academia, and Students.

World Social Work Day is an annual worldwide observance dedicated to recognizing the invaluable contributions of social workers and emphasizing the pivotal role of their profession in promoting social justice and upholding human rights.