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Easter School for Children launched in
Kumasi
Kumasi, March 23, GNA - Mr Eric Okrah, Child Protection
Specialist of UNICEF, has said that recognizing children's
rights did not mean that adults no longer have
responsibility towards them.
He said it was incumbent on parents, politicians, teachers
and other stakeholders helping to create an atmosphere that
would empower children to continue to contribute their views
on all relevant issues.
Mr Okrah said this in a speech read for him at the launch of
the Easter School for Children organized by the Children's
Rights International (CRI), a non-governmental organisation
(NGO) in Kumasi on Thursday.
The theme for the celebration is, "Looking for the Missing
Child at 50".
Mr Okrah said UNICEF has seen the Easter School for children
as one of an opportunity where children could be empowered
to identify and fulfil their goals and initiatives.
"We believe that children have a body of experience and
knowledge that is unique to their situation and may not
necessarily share common perceptions with adults hence,
listening to them can lead to good decisions and
strengthening democracy in the country", he said.
Mr Kweku Appiah, the Executive Director of the (CRI), said
this year's Easter School for Children would take place in a
month's time at Tamale and would be attended by 197
participants from the Greater Accra, Central, Eastern,
Northern and the Upper East regions.
Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempemhene of Kumasi, said some
children have taken to the streets due to broken homes and
the extended family system.
Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),
called on CRI to help produce open minded and responsible
leaders through the Easter School.
He explained that by so doing, the children's naivety and
ignorance would not be taken advantage of and exploited in
child prostitution, child soldiers, and child labour among
others.
GNA
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