She said the social worker by training is endowed with the ability to perceive, appreciate and understand the situation of the vulnerable person, identify their needs, design needed services and facilitate the provision of requisite intervention to bring relief to them.

She said: “Where no-one fails to perceive, appreciate, and take steps to intervene in the situation of the vulnerable in the society, they tend to remain or fall prey to abusive environments that is not in their best interest.”

Madam Otiko Djaba made the call in a keynote address delivered on her behalf at the 13th annual Matriculation and 12th Graduation Ceremony of the School of Social Work, Osu in Accra on the theme: “Caring for the Vulnerable: Social Workers Stand Up!”.

She said: “Social workers are by their training endowed with the skills to perceive such circumstances in the lives of persons and take steps to address them”. The Gender Minister said the Department of Social Welfare is undertaking care reforms which seek to professionalize social work in Ghana and develop appropriate standards for care work.

She said the Ministry has also developed the Child and Family Policy and the Justice for Children Policy to ensure the welfare of children, LEAP and other social intervention programs are there to provide protection for the vulnerable. “In all these arrangements, the person who has been prepared to facilitate addressing the needs of the vulnerable in our community, the social worker is critical”, she added.

Dr Prince Boamah Abrah, the Acting Principal of the School of Social Work, urged the graduands to use the knowledge and skills acquired to assist and support the vulnerable and other under privileged in society. The event was used to welcome 175 fresh students into the school and also graduated 143 students who have finished their various courses in the school.

Forty-two of the graduans representing 29.37 per cent were males and 101 of the graduans representing 70.63 per cent were females. With reference to the fresh students, 45 representing 25.71 per cent were males whiles 130 representing 74.29 per cent were females.

 The Sandwich 2016/17, Regular 2016/17 and Diploma 2016/17 groups formed the graduates who graduated on the 13th annual matriculation and 12th graduation ceremony. Ms Monica Owusu, Mr David Worlanyo Boafo and Ms Mavis Edem Klutse were adjudged overall best students for the Sandwich 2016/17 group, Regular 2016/17 group and Diploma 2016/17 group.

The School of Social Work, Osu which was established in 1945 with a handful of students had seven men and two women as its first products passing out in 1946. The School currently has a population of 263 students both male and female and runs certificate and diploma in Social Work on regular and sandwich modules.