Gov’t agencies commit to child rights issues

Community Development Alliance (CDA), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has successfully influenced the establishment of child rights panels by some Municipal and District Assemblies as mandated by the Children’s Act, Act (560).

CDA, which is committed to promoting the well-being and human rights of women and children across the northern sector of Ghana, had again influenced community declarations against issues of child rights and child abuse through enacting and enforcement of bye-laws.

Mr Yussif Kanton, Executive Director of CDA, who revealed this during a multi- stakeholders’ review meeting in Wa, noted that CDA had also been able to reach out to more than 15,000 children in rural communities through sensitisation to help improve communities’ knowledge on child rights and protection issues.

He said the creation of the children help-line for the Domestic and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service had helped to increase the rate of people who now reported issues of child abuse to the Unit.

He said through collaboration, government agencies concerned with issues of child rights and child protection such as the Social Welfare, Department of Children and DOVVSU, had become more efficient in carrying out their mandate more than before, since funding from the Central Government was not forthcoming.

Mr Kanton, who thanked STAR-Ghana for the funding support, said he was convinced that CDA would achieve its goal of ensuring that its operational areas became safe for all children to live in.

Mr Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha, Wa Municipal Chief Executive, thanked CDA for facilitating the establishment of the child panels and hoped that their work would have greater impact on the well-being of children.

He said the duty of government was to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive to support the development of the nation.

He said he had taken note of some concerns expressed by stakeholders such as children using their study time to go and fetch water for caterers to cook.

The participatory planning review brought together assembly men, unit committee members, community protection teams, Young and Wise Child Rights Club, patrons, women leaders, religious leaders, child rights organisations and the media.

The objective was for them to reflect on their past performances and plan the way forward.