Social Welfare and Community Development
The Department of Social Welfare was established in 1946 by the Local Ordinance Order No. 66 with a mandate for both Social Welfare and Housing. In 1950, the Department's mandate was limited to Social Welfare services to take the lead role in Prevention, Protection and Promotion of Policy guidelines, Regulation, Standards and Programmes for effective and efficient delivery of its Welfare Services.
The Department of Community Development is a decentralized Department under the Sector Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. It was established in 1948 through an Administrative Regulation 28 (1942) which has further been strengthened by the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development (DSWCD) is established at the MMDAs as per Second Schedule of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
Contact Information
- Phone
- +233240935075
- Address
- CC-000-0889, Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, Cape Coast, Central Region, Ghana.
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Vision
To take the lead in integrating the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded in mainstream of development.
Mission
The Department works in partnership with people in their communities to improve their well-being through promoting development with equity for the disadvantaged, vulnerable and the excluded.
Core Functions & Responsibilities
- Support families and individuals in the handling of Non-Child Maintenance cases, Child abuse, Custody, Paternity and Family Reconciliation.
- Facilitate the implementation of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) activities.
- Supervise and monitor the setting up and operations of residential homes.
- Conduct and write social investigation report for the purposes of licencing and compliance of the National standards for residential homes.
- Handle domestic violence cases and spousal abuse.
- Facilitate community development initiatives and programmes.
- Implement poverty reduction programmes within the Metropolis.
- Register and support persons with disabilities.
Services
- Child welfare and protection services
- LEAP programme registration and management
- Social investigation and court reports
- Disability registration and support
- Community development programmes
- Marriage counselling and family support