Communities Urged To Put In Measures To Protect Children
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The Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Children, Mr Emmanuel K. Dartey has called on all communities to initiate regulations to protect children.
He said children in most communities battle against prostitution, child labour and other abuses.
Mr Dartey was speaking at a quarterly review meeting of the Girl Advocacy Alliance (GAA) Project organized by the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) in collaboration with Plan Ghana at Koforidua.
He said children who help their parents in farming were required to spend just two hours and three hours during working days and on weekends respectively on the farms.
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Nana Mensah Abroampah, the Ankobeahene of Akwadum community said, a by-law has been enacted at Akwadum to prevent children from going out after 2030 hours.
He said five children between the ages of 15 and 17 were rescued from prostitution and sent to school by the Community Child Protection Team (CCPT) in his area, but only three were able to remain in school.
Alhaji Alhassan Mahama, the Chairman of CCPT in Zongo in the area said, two cases about early child marriages have been dissolved in the community with the children involved now enrolled in schools.
He said, the CCPT in the Zongo area were able to organize a sensitization programme last year to educate the community about gender-based violence.
Alhaji Mahama said, the purpose of the sensitization was to instill discipline in the hearts of children to avoid any misconduct in the community.
He said the Chief Imam at the Zongo granted CCPT the opportunity to educate the Muslims who goes to the mosque every Friday to pray.
The New Juaben South Municipal Director of the Department of Social Development, Ms Evelyn Y. Bansah said there is a difference between a child supporting a family business and child labour which most citizens misunderstand.
She explained that child supporting labour occurs when a child who is 16 years and above assists in the business of the family.
She said child labour occurs when a child is asked to perform a task which will in the end negatively affect his or her health.
