Afrikids Ghana: Celebrating 10 years of Child Protection in Northern Ghana

Board Chairperson of Afrikids Ghana, Prof Agnes A. Apusigah

Regional Director of GES, Jane Sabina Obeng (Left) International Director, Afrikids UK, Amy Parker (Middle)

       

Having worked in twenty Seven  projects areas in sixteen administrative districts of Northern Ghana, Afrikids Ghana, a child right NGO says it is prepared to work with all relevant stakeholders to promote and restore the hopes of vulnerable groups in society particularly children. 

 Speaking at the climax of its 10^th anniversary in Bolgatanga, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Nicholas Kumah said the organisation has over the decade worked tirelessly to achieve 95 percent success rate in getting children off the streets and keeping them in either formal or vocational education. 

According to him, children are at the centre of Afrikids core mandate and in order to support them effectively, it has become highly imperative to engage as many as related stakeholders as possible. 

He noted that with the said collaboration challenges facing children could be address in a holistic manner, tackling the root cause. Correspondent Isaac Asare has more for Radio Ghana.

 

Dignitaries at the function: UE Regional Minister, Albert Abongo next to Prof Apusigah

Afrikids partners from the UK

Afrikids is a partnership between a UK charity organisation, Afrikids UK and Afrikids Ghana, a local NGO based in the Upper East Region.  

Afrikids Ghana has since its establishment in 2005 worked in line with its shared mission of ensuring the rights and protection of children. For the organisation, society owe it a responsibility to  ensure children’s right to education, health, life and standard of living as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

To this effect, Afrikids Ghana has demonstrated true commitment to the charter by reaching out to a number of vulnerable children in Northern Ghana through its project interventions. 

Key among the areas has been education, where over nine thousand out of school children have been identified and enrolled into formal education through the Complementary Basic Education Support Project spearheaded by the government. 

Through its vocational skill training and comprehensive livelihood support modules, the livelihoods of women in their operational areas have greatly improved, making them productive and self dependent. 

Crop of  MDCEs present at the function

The durbar to climax a year-long celebration of Afrikids on the occasion of its 10^th anniversary was to highlight its outstanding achievements chalked over the years.  

The International Director, Afrikids, UK, Amy Parker lauded  Afrikids Ghana for the progress made so far and  commended staff of Afrikids and its implementing partners for being part of the success story.

For his part, the Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Nicholas Kumah said the NGO was committed to promoting the cause of children and other vulnerable groups and that the focus will be to continually empowers the local people in a sustainable manner. 

He said children’s rights are met with a greater prospect of securing their future aspirations. Mr Kumah spoke of other workable future interventions that go beyond the normal individual support systems.

Addressing the gathering, the Upper East Regional Minister, Albert Abongo, acknowledged the collaborative efforts of Afrikids and the various traditional authorities for abolishing the spirit child phenomenon and other injurious socio-cultural practices. 

While calling for the expunction of other debilitating aspects of culture in the region, Mr Abongo, announced the implementation of a Child Protection Policy introduced by government to enforce child protection and called for concerted effort in dealing with child neglect and irresponsibility on the part of parents.

The 10 year anniversary of Afrikids was climaxed under the theme: ‘Ten Years of Child Protection in Northern Ghana’. 

The occasion, spiced with drama and spectacular cultural performances brought together stakeholders including Afrikids partners from the UK, revered chiefs, MDCEs, as well as heads of decentralized departments among other functionaries.

GBC