Children's rights must be protected - GNCC

Jumapo, Oct.13, GNA - The Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) Mr Samuel Dontoh, has stressed the need for children's rights to be protected and promoted. He said this would ensure children grew and developed in a conducive environment for the benefit of society and nation.

Speaking at a project exhibition by members of the 4-H Youth Clubs, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at Jumapo near Koforidua on Wednesday, Mr Dontoh said any breach of the children's rights such as physical abuse, exploitation and any other behaviour towards children violated their development as stipulated by the law.

He therefore, asked the people to report any violation of children's rights to the appropriate authorities for redress. The New Juaben Municipal Director of Education, Ms Felicia Duku, said the results of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the municipality this year, was not encouraging and urged the children to learn hard.

She explained the new computerized placement system for Senior Secondary School to them and called on stakeholders to take up their responsibilities to achieve the desired results. Ms Duku commended the 4-H for their project on capacity building for children that would occupy them meaningfully during their leisure time and prevent them from indulging in immoral acts detriment to their future.

The Executive Director of the 4-H, Mr Kwaku Boateng, said the project exhibition concept was to unearth talents of the children through the various project they would select.

He said the project would also empower children to improve on their livelihood through the methodology of learning and called on the Government and other developmental agencies to adopt the concept as an approach for youth empowerment.

Twenty-four children participated in the exhibition with projects ranging from animal rearing, crop production, art and craft.