Month of the Ghanaian child observed at Kobore

23-08-2011
The Acting Bawku West District Director for the Commission for Human Right and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ, Thomas Akayeti has underscored the need to redefine our attitudes towards the rights of children. He said the welfare of children is paramount and that it is high time issues of child protection are moved from mere talking to implementation and action stage. This way, children will be offered the opportunity to unearth and develop their full potentials. Mr. Akayeti was speaking at a day’s sensitization programme held at Kobore, a farming community in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. The programme which was being organized by Right to Play, an NGO and Action Child Mobilization was on the theme: “Protecting children’s right; everyone’s duty. It was held to mark the month of the Ghanaian Child, a day set aside to advance the cause of children worldwide. Mr. Akayeti said cases of child abuse including child labour, child trafficking; child exploitation and neglect are sometimes considered as minor issues, forgetting that the constitution frowns on abuses meted out to children. He emphasized that acts perpetrated on children amounts to other criminal acts and should be avoided. He mentioned some of the abuses as forced marriages, child custody, discrimination in education and denial to pregnancy and paternity among others. Mr. Akayeti was of the view that if children are educated on their civic rights and responsibilities, they will learn to live decent lives. He urged parents to create a healthy environment for children to live in, stating that children desire the best of life so as to help them grow to become responsible adults in future. The Northern Project Manager of Right to Play, Ben Kasimu Wumbla, disclosed that Right to Play, as an international NGO believes that every child has a right and that promoting these rights would build a formidable environment for their holistic development. In order to achieve this Right to Play has therefore been collaborating with the GES since 2001 for the delivery of quality sport and play which according to him, is done through the use of specially designed games to promote education and learning. He said his outfit has also been working closely with its partners to promote the welfare of children, particularly in deprived communities where child rights are ignorantly abused. Mr. Wumbla used the occasion to encouraged parents, particularly women to let their children develop interest in sports since it is one of the surest ways they can live to be at peace with the world. Officials from the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), the Department of Social Welfare and the NCCE also stressed the need to report cases of child abuse to the appropriate quarters for redress. . The Chief of Kobore Traditional Area, Naba Anwelinga David expressed his profound gratitude to management of Right to Play and its partners for the steps taken to protect the right of children in society. Meanwhile, a football gala match organized between Googo, Yarigu and Kobore Cadet members, saw Yarigu stars emerging as winners at the end of the competition.
GBC END IA/