Only 5 Orphanages Licenced

?HUNDREDS? ARE ILLEGAL

Reports say that despite the existence of hundreds of orphanages in the country, only five of them are officially recognised and licensed by Social Welfare Department (SWD).

?Most of these institutions are operating illegally in unhygienic environments, thus worsening the plight of the children,? says Stephen Adongo, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Welfare in charge of Child Rights.

Speaking yesterday during a one-day workshop for the heads of orphanages in the Greater Accra Region, he said, ?The operators of all illegal orphanages in the country will be sanctioned according to the law.?

He listed the five recognised orphanages in the country as the Osu, Tamale, Kumasi Children?s homes, the Mampong Babies? Home in Ashanti and the St. Joseph?s Orphanage in Jirapa, in the Upper West Region.

The workshop was organised by the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) to build the capacity of the participants on issues relating to children.