EU supports Ghana’s employment and social protection program

General news for Friday 12 February 2021

Source: GNA

2021-02-12

The European Union (EU) provided logistical support to Ghana’s social protection, employment and business development services under the EU-funded Ghana Employment and Social Protection (GESP) program.

The support, estimated at 1.9 million euros, comprising items, including 15 vehicles, 98 motorcycles, computer equipment and office furniture, aims to provide resources to institutions under the GESP program to improve delivery. services at national, regional and community levels.

The GESP program is a partnership agreement between the EU and the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance, Employment and Labor Relations, Gender and Social Protection, as well as the Association of Ghana industries, the Institute of Local Government Services and the School of Social Work.

Mr Zoltan Agai, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Ghana, said the program aims to contribute to inclusive and equitable growth in Ghana by strengthening social protection and employment systems in the country.

He said this has helped improve technical and vocational education and training opportunities for the informal sector and in the agricultural value chain.

“Our support is based on ensuring efficient service delivery. In view of this, we ensured that the items were also delivered to the decentralized levels; some beneficiary district assemblies, labor departments and public employment centers, ”he said.

Ms Yvonne Quansah, Director of the Resource Mobilization and Economic Relations Division at the Ministry of Finance, said she was delighted to partner with the EU in the GESP program, adding that the support was aimed at increasing government efforts to promote job creation and social protection.

She said the government had improved existing social protection interventions and introduced new ones, saying it was committed to providing social protection to the poor and vulnerable.

“It is in this vein that the government sees the GESP program as timely and relevant, as it complements its efforts to close the poverty gap in the country. On behalf of the Government of Ghana, I would like to once again congratulate the EU for its collaboration in the fight against poverty in the country, ”she said.

The Ghana Employment and Social Protection Program is a partnership initiative launched in 2018 by the EU and the Government of Ghana to improve social protection systems, improve management of employment policy, strengthen training opportunities for the informal sector and improve access to business development services.