Some Basic School students present at the celebration
The Director of Department of Children at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Florence Ayisi Kotey, has indicated that government, through the ministry, will continue to improve upon social protections interventions in the communities towards the advancement of the rights of the child.
She said through engagements of expert, strategic and dynamic leadership of communities and traditional leaders, government will continue to streamline laws and policies such as the Children’s Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, Child and Family Welfare Policy, the Human Trafficking Act, the Domestic Violence Act among others.
General involvement
Additionally, she stated that the closest attention that can be paid to children’s issues is to join the government at the community level to develop by-laws and guidelines in line with the toolkit to better manage children, adding that children’s issues must be everyone’s concern in the community.
Ms Kotey was speaking on behalf of Larbi Zuweira Abudu, a Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, at the celebration of the National Children’s Day community sensitization on Tuesday at Jumapo, near Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
The even,t which was under the theme “Role of community-based structures in protecting the rights of children,” was aimed at highlighting both the role of the community-based structures in policy implementation and the achievements so far.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, stated that even though the National Children’s Day is celebrated to promote togetherness, create awareness, and improve children’s welfare, there’s still more work to be done in the area of children protection rights.
“The day offers us the opportunity to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s right through discussions and actions that will build a better future for our children. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing at all ages. Child Right and Protection is a global phenomenon. Ghana recognizes the need for strong and concerted effort in implementing child right and protection policies,” he said.
Pledge
The Minister urged traditional rulers, opinion leaders, churches, the clergy, and other stakeholders to put their shoulders to the wheel to protect the child and also report child abuse cases to the relevant institutions and agencies for immediate redress.
He pledged his personal commitment and that of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council to intensify efforts to monitor and supervise activities at the various Municipal/District Assemblies (MDAS).
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