Gov't taking steps to bridge social exclusion - Kufuor

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA- President John Agyekum Kuffuor on Wednesday said pragmatic steps were being taken to bridge the gaps of social exclusion and promote an inclusive society.

He said the introduction of the National Insurance Scheme, National Youth Employment Policy, National Social Protection Strategy and Social Grants programme were some of the interventions put in place to address the identified gaps. The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Osei Akoto Minister of State in-charge of Finance at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning at the launch of the Ghana National Human Development Report for 2007 by UNDP in Accra.

The 197-page report, which was done by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was under the theme: "Towards a More Inclusive Society" captured the vision of government, the objectives and the targets of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He said the nation's plan in promoting inclusiveness had also been incorporated in national economic development programmes such as the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy 1 and the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy 11.

He said the introduction of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) and the promotion of enabling environment for the private and public sectors to thrive were all indications of government willingness to promote a more inclusive society.

The President expressed his appreciation to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for sponsoring the research and said the report provided opportunities for further investigations and pointed out key areas that required more attention and improvement in addition to sound basis for policy initiative. He entreated all to read the report and generate objective debate in thematic areas of gender equity, empowerment of the vulnerable, youth employment and extensive community involvement in good governance. "It is important to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and a middle income status in the shortest possible time", he added. Presenting the highlights of the report at the launch, Professor Cletus Dordunoo, leader of the consultants who were tasked to work on the report said the report examined the major drivers that influenced exclusion and the involvement of a more inclusive society. The report, which is the sixth edition has six chapters focusing on the framework Social Exclusion, Status of Human Development and Social Exclusion, Social Structure, Systems and Practices, Social Exclusion: The Economic Dimension, Social Exclusion : The Political and Legal Dimension and Conclusions: Promoting an Inclusive Society. The report called for further research in the area of development and implementation of advocacy programmes as well as policy planning and implementation. 13 Feb. 08