IJM GHANA IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OTI REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL (ORCC) OPENS FIVE-DAYS CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR SOCIAL WELFARE/ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS IN OTI REGION – Oti Regional Coordinating Council
IJM GHANA IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OTI REGIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL (ORCC) OPENS FIVE-DAYS CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR SOCIAL WELFARE/ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS IN OTI REGION
International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana has commenced a five-day capacity-building workshop for Social Welfare Officers in the Oti Region, aimed at strengthening their professional knowledge and skills in child protection and case management.
The training, which commenced on Monday, September 7, 2026, at Kadjebi, brings together two Social Welfare Officers from each of the nine districts in the Oti Region. The workshop forms part of IJM Ghana’s ongoing collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and other key stakeholders to strengthen child protection systems and improve services for vulnerable children and families.
She noted that the training would cover critical areas including the Human Trafficking Law, trauma-informed care, alternative care, performance management, case management practices and coordinated responses to child protection cases.
Mrs Hodinyah emphasised the important role of Social Welfare Officers as frontline professionals in safeguarding the rights and well-being of children. She explained that strengthening government institutions with the requisite knowledge, skills and resources was essential to building a sustainable child protection system.
She encouraged participants to actively engage in the training, share practical experiences from their respective districts and take advantage of the opportunity to learn from one another.
The Oti Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr Innocent Komla Agbolosu, commended IJM Ghana for its continued support to the Department and its contribution towards strengthening child protection services in the region.
He urged participants to take the training seriously, participate actively in discussions and share the knowledge and skills acquired with their colleagues upon returning to their respective offices.
Also addressing the participants, Mr Andrews Dodzi Adugu, Senior State Attorney and Focal Person for the Prosecution of Human Trafficking for the Volta and Oti Regions, described human trafficking as an organised crime that required strong collaboration among institutions to combat effectively.
He encouraged Social Welfare Officers to exercise due diligence in handling suspected trafficking and child protection cases, stressing the importance of proper assessment and investigation before reaching conclusions. He further called for strengthened collaboration between the Department of Social Welfare, the Ghana Police Service and other relevant institutions in the investigation, referral and management of cases.
The five-day workshop is expected to equip participating Social Welfare Officers with practical knowledge and skills to improve the identification, assessment, referral and management of child protection and human trafficking cases across the Oti Region.
The Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) recognises the importance of continuous professional development and strengthened institutional collaboration in ensuring the effective protection and welfare of children and vulnerable persons within the region.
