Involve children in decision making - Prof Ayettey

Dodowa, Feb. 07, GNA - The Reverend Professor Seth A. Ayettey, a former Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana on Wednesday appealed to leaders to inculcate into children good moral values and leadership skills to enable them to play effective roles in their communities when they become adults.

Professor Ayettey, a member of the World Vision Ghana Advisory Council said children should be recognized politically and in decision-making so that they could develop good leadership skills with a drive to develop their communities and the nation.

Professor Ayettey made the appeal when he and other members of Advisory Council, World Vision Ghana called on Mr. Michael Adjorweh-Nortey, District Chief Executive Officer, Dangme West at his office in Dodowa. World Vision is an International Christian, relief and development organization that works in nearly 100 countries worldwide to promote the well- being of all persons with special focus on children. The visit was to afford the Advisory Council of World Vision Ghana to inspect and commission projects, including an eight bedroom flat for teachers and a six classroom building at Djorkpo, a clinic at Osuwem, a Visual Art Studio at Ghanata Senior High School and a Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre at Dodowa. The projects are estimated at 140,000 dollars.

Professor Ayettey said World Vision Ghana had sponsored a lot of brilliant but needy children who were now excelling in their field of endeavour and appealed to parents not to relegate their daughters to the background. He observed that the girl-child also possessed good mental capabilities and as such could rub shoulders with their male counterparts. He recounted that some Ghanaian cultures and traditions made men to continue to look down on girls and emphasized the need for parents to change their perception. Mr Ajorweh-Nortey said the assembly would see to it that students attending the district's three Senior High Schools were not sent home during examination period for non-payment of fees. He informed members of the assembly's scholarship scheme put in place for needy but brilliant children who were sponsored up to tertiary level. "We are trying to source monies from our local people to fund programmes for the local people," Mr Ajorweh-Nortey added. He commended World Vision for its immense contribution in providing infrastructure for schools and health centres in the district.