The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the World Bank has held first national conference to raise awareness on the role of social protection in Ghana’s economy.

The conference held on Tuesday is to add to government’s major agenda for building the synergy that would transform the economic growth through social protection to reduce poverty.

The theme: “Social Protection: A Strategic Tool for Poverty Reduction and Bridging the Inequality Gap in Ghana” is to engage in a global dialogue on achieving Millennium Development Goals and halving poverty to address inequalities, poverty and development.”

In a speech read on his behalf President John Dramani Mahama, said Ghana has experienced rapid economic growth rate over the pass years resulting in substantial progress in reducing poverty.

The president said the growth rate of the gross domestic product averaged about 10 per cent per year from 2010 to 2012 and more than double the continental average making Ghana’s economy one of the fastest growing in the world.

He said the number of extremely poor and common in developed and developing countries and increasing recognised as effective vehicle to individual in societies to manage risks related to poverty, old age illness, disability, unemployment through income support and social services.

He expressed gratitude to the development partners for their support in helping establish a vibrant social protection system.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection said the country is determined to stand together as one to reduce poverty, address inequalities and to provide safety nets to cushion the most vulnerable groups from unexpected economic and environmental shocks.

Nana Oye said social protection has become an indispensable part of government’s responsibility and as such the ministry is committed to ensuring a successful social protection system.

She noted that currently there are approximately 44 social protection interventions, funded from Government budget, adding that these programmes in the form of Education (free school feeding, School Uniform and Exercise books, Capitation Grant), in health (NHIS) the exempt category, Employment (Labour Intensive public works) and cash transfers.

She said the ministry with support from key development partners, have developed and implemented a National Common Targeting Mechanism to identify and select beneficiaries for Social Protection interventions and to facilitate the establishment of a National Single Registry for Social Protection.

“Our National Health Insurance scheme has registered and is providing free healthcare to over 1,000,000 vulnerable beneficiaries, over 88,908 persons have been employed under the labour intensive public works with 52,177 of them being women,”

“Within two short months this year, the Ministry, in collaboration with National Health Insurance Authority, has registered over 3,630 aged persons above 65 years, out of a targeted 10,000 on the NHIS database.” She added.

She said it is equally important to strengthen the coordination and targeting of individual programmes so that limited resources reach the poorest and most vulnerable households.

Mr Yusupha B. Crookes, World Bank Country Director congratulated the ministry adding that Ghana, has taken a bold step to recognize social protection as a national priority but major challenges still remain and as such called on government to focus on rural development.

He said there are a large number of people who are vulnerable in the country which government must work to ensure it reduces the abject poverty of these people that way Ghana would achieve the development it needs.

Ms Marcia Helena Carvalho Lopes, Former Brazilian Minister for Social Development and Fight Against Hunger thanked the ministry for the conference, pledging her continues support towards Ghana’s social protection system for the development of the country.