Social work in the Obuasi East Municipality just got a major tech boost. Staff at the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development recently wrapped up an intensive, two-day coaching workshop designed to overhaul how local cases are managed, tracked, and reported.
The training—held from April 20th to 21st, 2026—was part of a national rollout organized by the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service, in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and backed by UNICEF.
For the officers on the ground, it was a timely deep dive into modernizing social protection services using the Social Welfare Information Management System (SWIMS).
The workshop kicked off with an encouraging opening address from the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Richard Blevi who urged staff to lean into the digital tools and bring their absolute best to the table for the people of Obuasi East.
To guide them through the process, the training drew on expert facilitators:
Madam Abena Dufie Arthur (Ministry of Local Government Service, Department of Social Welfare)
Mr. David Nti Akresi (Ministry of Local Government Service, Department of Social Welfare)
Mr. Christian Mireku (Office of the Head of Local Government Service, Human Resource)
Local technical backup was also on hand, with the Assembly’s MIS Unit stepping in to assist staff throughout the hands-on sessions.
Day One: Mastering SWIMS and Case Management
Led by Madam Abena Dufie Arthur, the first day focused entirely on getting comfortable with the SWIMS platform. Staff rolled up their sleeves for practical walkthroughs covering:
Logging in and registering new clients
Tracking active cases and keeping files updated
Handling alternative care protocols—including family reunification, foster care, and adoption—with
a heavy emphasis on airtight documentation.
Officers didn’t just listen; they engaged, firing off practical questions on how to fix data entry
errors, close out completed cases, and handle messy or incomplete information.
Day Two: Turning Data into Action
Day two, facilitated by David Nti, shifted the focus to the bigger picture: planning, budgeting, and decision-making. Officers learned how to pull clean data from SWIMS to draft realistic activity plans, write winning proposals, build solid budgets, and generate clear reports that help leadership make informed choices.
Like any tech rollout, the workshop brought a few reality checks to the surface. Staff didn’t shy away from pointing out everyday roadblocks, including:
Issues on internet connectivity
A shortage of computers
Tricky software navigation quirks
Fortunately, the sessions didn’t just identify problems, they brought solutions. Facilitators stepped up with immediate commitments to help smooth out operations, including promises of improved internet access, a public address system, and two brand-new laptops to ease the hardware crunch.
By the end of the two days, officers walked away with a renewed sense of confidence and practical skills they can apply immediately to protect and support vulnerable community members.
The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development is calling for more frequent refresher workshops, steady technical backing, and continued logistical upgrades.
