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Children's protection by government
irreversible - Ms Tagoe
Odumase (GAR), Jan. 18, GNA - Ms Theresa Ameley Tagoe,
Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Wednesday said
the government's aim of protecting children's rights and
development is irreversible.
She said the government's position is expressed in the 1992
constitution and the international convention on the rights
of children Ghana is a signatory.
Ms Tagoe said this in a speech read on her behalf by Mrs
Elioenai Adu-Labi, a Director in the office of the Greater
Accra Regional Coordinating Council, at a community
sensitization program on child rights and responsibilities
organized by the World of Hope International (WOHI), a non
governmental organization (NGO), at Samam Odumasi in the Ga
West District.
She said government appreciated the efforts of WOHI to
protect children's rights and to prevent their neglect,
exploitation and abuse, adding, "the Regional Coordinating
Council will collaborate with you in your activities".
Ms Tagoe said, as the nation was getting ready to celebrate
its 50th anniversary of independence, government agencies
and NGO'S would be strengthened and their efforts
complimented for the socio-economic development of the
nation".
She urged parents to honor their responsibilities towards
children and to ensure their care, maintenance and up
bringing in co-operation with the appropriate institutions,
saying, "In all cases the interest of children is
paramount".
"We need to protect our children from the numerous acts of
disrespect shown them mainly by adults. The convention we
signed shows our determination to see to it that children
and adults are entitled to the same rights and liberties,"
she said.
Madam Monica Westin, President and Founder of WOHI, said the
NGO would work closely with community leaders to identify
ways to assist the educational development of young people
especially children in the community.
She said, "We know that programs that do not consider the
civil, political, economic and cultural factors have limited
success with regard to education, HIV/AIDS prevention and
health care".
Madam Christine Rappoport, Board Member of WOHI in the
United States of America, said despite the existence of the
rights, children suffer from poverty, homelessness, abuse,
neglect, preventable diseases; unequal access to education
and justice that did not recognize their special needs.
She said these were problems in both industrialized and
developing countries and called on civil societies and
governments to work against such tendencies.
GNA
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