The development of a nation lies on the collective efforts from citizens and therefore promoting social inclusion requires the effort of all in other to ensure that no one is left behind in the nation’s development.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection,Cynthia Mamle Morrison has reiterated the need for Ghana to get everyone one board in the bid to attain national development.

The disabled, people with special needs and poverty-stricken individuals are usually left behind without any form of assistance, but to put an end to this, the Gender Ministry has launched the maiden edition of the MOGCSP Summit.

The goal of the Gender Ministry, according to the sector minister, is to reduce chronic poverty, ensure that the rights of individuals are protected at all times as well as attain gender equality and equity in political, social and economic development systems and outcomes.

Cynthia Mamle Morrison speaking at the launch acknowledged the efforts of government, stakeholders and development partners in facilitating policies that guarantees a place for the vulnerable in the society.

She stated that “In our development journey as a nation, we cannot leave behind the vulnerable person by the wayside, and for that our vulnerable persons left behind is one too many”.

Issues of social protection has taken centre stage in our global development with calls made to government to rollout policies that will protect the disabled, mentally challenged, less privileged as well as women and children.

The Ministry is implementing policies that will promote social inclusion to help empower women and promote gender equality in Ghana.

Some notable measures taken by the ministry include the implementation of the Affirmative Action Law, Social Protection Bill, National Aged Person Bill, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program, the Disability Act, 5-year strategic plan to address teenage pregnancy among other interventions.

On the Ghana School Feeding Program, the ministry is ensuring to cut down the administrative cost by encouraging Caterers to use locally grown food stuff from our local farmers. One of the policies implemented under the Feeding program is the provision of cocoa drink to all students across the country to ensure the habit of cocoa consumption in the country.

The minister also outlined measures being put in place to curb the increasing rate of street children in the capital.

“Some of them have just decided to run away from home and are on the street, we have started picking up some of them, and we have put some in schools. There are people that we have aligned them to their families again, there are people who are however not ready to go home.”

The Gender Ministry is also working with the security agencies to eradicate early and forced child marriages, violence against women and children and child trafficking.

The 2-day Summit is on the theme “Promoting Social Inclusion: Leave No One Behind”.