Social protection policies not serving the ‘low class’ – MP

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises, Joseph Amenowode, says the notion that social protection policies may be offering protection to the poor and vulnerable in society may not be entirely true.

In his view, such policies rather benefit society’s so-called upper class citizens. He says such policies should rather be used to develop the human resource and economic well-being of all citizens, and not a few.

He said this when he spoke at Ghana’s Side Event at the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission on Social Development.

Speaking on the theme, “achieving SDG 1: Reviewing Processes Towards Building a Resilient and Efficient Social Protection System in Ghana,” Mr. Amenowode clarified that social protection is an investment in the safety of the future.

He said, “the definition of social protection goes that we are helping the vulnerable but my personal belief is that we are not helping the vulnerable, but it is an investment in the future of the upper class. You refuse to raise the vulnerable from their low level, they become social deviants and ultimately they lead the revolution that topples the upper class.”

Mr. Amenowode lauded the good relationship between the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

He also revealed that the Ministry will soon bring a Social Protection Bill to Parliament for passage and assured that the Bill will not take too long to be passed.

This he said is “because the committee has been involved in every step of the Bill formation and can easily ensure its swift passage.”