Department of Social Welfare and Community Development

Also known as: DSWCD

Department of Social Welfare and Community Development — government agency distributing livelihood support to persons with disabilities and addressing child protection and labour issues across Ghanaian districts and municipalities.

2026-06-012026-09-15

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

June 2026
1 JunJoy Online
Susan Temley Akortia, Adaklu District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has stated that the best interest and safety of children must always be the primary consideration in every decision-making process. …
Safety, interest of children should be primary consideration in decision-making – Mrs Akortia

Society

Ghana's child protection system weakening despite strong legal framework

The News

The executive director of the ARK Foundation says Ghana has become less effective at protecting children despite having laws, policies and systems in place, citing a loss of deliberate and coordinated approaches at district and community levels. She notes that while Ghana has strengthened its legal and policy framework over the years, these have not translated into sufficient support and protection for children at the community level.

20 hours ago · Joy Online →

Yesterday

Ghana's child protection system weakening despite strong legal framework
The executive director of the ARK Foundation says Ghana has become less effective at protecting children despite having laws, policies and systems in place, citing a loss of deliberate and coordinated approaches at district and community levels. She notes that while Ghana has strengthened its legal and policy framework over the years, these have not translated into sufficient support and protection for children at the community level.
20 hours ago · Joy Online →

Monday 24 August

Old Tafo fund shifts disability support toward livelihood activities
The Old Tafo Municipal Assembly has disbursed support to 31 persons with disabilities in its second fund disbursement in 2026, providing equipment and resources for livelihood activities such as phone repair, poultry, onion farming, and trading, rather than immediate handouts.
24 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 3 August

Reform-LBG engages stakeholders on peacebuilding project in Lewuniyiri
The Centre for Social Development (CSD) Reform-LBG held a stakeholder engagement in Lewuniyiri, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, bringing together about 85 participants including women, youth and persons with disabilities to strengthen local ownership of its peacebuilding and livelihoods project and foster community collaboration on sustainable development.
3 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 24 July

IJM Ghana trains professionals in trauma-informed child protection care
The International Justice Mission Ghana, partnering with government and justice agencies, completed a two-day training programme for child protection and justice professionals on trauma-informed care, focusing on survivor-centred responses, understanding trauma's impact, and reducing re-traumatisation while strengthening inter-agency collaboration.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 17 July

31 PWDs in Oforikrom Municipality receive livelihood support packages
Thirty-one Persons with Disabilities in Oforikrom Municipality received livelihood support packages including deep freezers, sewing machines, assistive devices, and start-up capital for businesses, funded through the District Assembly Common Fund and presented by the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development.
17 July 2026 · Joy Online →
31 PWDs in Oforikrom get livelihood support packages
Thirty-one Persons with Disabilities in Oforikrom Municipality received livelihood support packages funded through the District Assembly Common Fund, including deep freezers, sewing machines, assistive devices, and start-up capital for various businesses. The Municipal Chief Executive said the municipality has over 400 recorded persons with disabilities and pledged to extend the program to all of them.
17 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 16 July

Suame Municipal Assembly disburses funds to 51 persons with disability
The Suame Municipal Assembly's Department of Social Welfare and Community Development has disbursed GH¢199,450 from its Disability Fund to 51 persons with disability (33 males and 18 females) for economic empowerment, education and training, medical and assistive devices, and business startup items including refrigerators and sewing machines.
16 July 2026 · The Chronicle →

Friday 10 July

KMA grants support PWDs; federation urges accessible infrastructure
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations has called on government and private institutions to make public buildings and transport systems accessible to persons with disabilities, following the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly's presentation of cash grants, start-up kits, and working tools to 57 PWDs to support sustainable livelihoods. The federation noted that hospitals, schools, and government offices lack disability-friendly features such as ramps and elevators.
10 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 2 July

Bosome Freho distributes start-up kits to 39 persons with disabilities
The Bosome Freho District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has presented start-up kits to 39 persons with disabilities to improve their livelihoods and reduce street begging. The items—including fufu pounding machines, refrigerators, deep freezers, cocoa spraying machines and wheelchairs—were distributed through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development using funding from the Persons with Disabilities Common Fund.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 13 June

Ahafo stakeholders launch campaign against child labour
Stakeholders in Asunafo North Municipality gathered on June 12, 2026, to commemorate World Day Against Child Labour with public activities including a route march, football matches, and educational role-plays, calling for strengthened efforts to eradicate child labour. The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development identified 305 cases of child labour in the municipality in 2025.
13 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 1 June

Child safety must be priority in all decisions, official says
Susan Temley Akortia, Adaklu District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has stated that the best interest and safety of children must always be the primary consideration in every decision-making process. According to a 2024 UNICEF/WHO survey cited by Akortia, one in five girls experienced sexual violence before age 18, while one in seven boys suffered similar abuse.
1 June 2026 · Joy Online →