LAUNCHING OF SOCIAL SERVICES WORKFORCE TRAINING
On Thursday, 18th July 2024, the School of Social Work of the Department of Social Welfare, under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection – MoGCSP, launched the Social Services Workforce (SSW) to train generic social workers for positions in the Department of Social Welfare.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dakoa Newman, the National Director for the Department of Social Welfare, Dr. Comfort Asare, said the Ministry, in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana, USAID – US Agency for International Development, and other donor partners, has embarked on a vigorous process to strengthen the social welfare workforce in the country.
The National Director, providing more details on SSW, emphasized that the Ministry is working on the professionalization of social work practice and training.
“The training, coupled with the legal and regulatory framework for social work practice, will address conflicts of interest in delivering integrated social services,” she added.
Dr. Asare noted that approximately 1,501,552 students have been trained since the inception of SSW, and an eight-week specialized certificate course in Social Work was introduced in April 2023.
According to her, the programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to make a positive impact in their communities.
The Director announced that SSW is in the final stages of affiliation with the University of Ghana and accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to offer a Diploma in Social Work.
In conclusion, Dr. Comfort Asare officially launched the maiden Social Services Workforce Training.
In a solidarity message, the representative from UNICEF Ghana, Mr. Osman Makkawi Khogali, and the Deputy Office Director of USAID Ghana, Dr. Stephen Dzisi, encouraged everyone to support social workers so they can provide their best efforts to assist vulnerable and less privileged children, families, and communities in Ghana.
They reaffirmed UNICEF and USAID’s support for the government, MoGCSP, DSW, and SSW in achieving their goals.
The program was organized with the support of UNICEF Ghana and USAID Ghana.
