Poverty is children's worst enemy - Compassion International

Mrs Gifty Dansoah Appiah, Country Director of Compassion International Ghana (CIG), has said the worst enemy that could prevent children from attaining their future aspirations was poverty.

“Children cannot attain their greatness when they are in the shackles of poverty,” she stated.

Mrs Appiah was addressing pastors, Church Partner Committee (CPC) chairmen and Child Development Workers (CDW) from the frontline partner churches of CIG from Ada, Tongu and Adaklu/Agotime clusters at Sogakope.

Compassion International, the parent Organisation of CIG is a Christian Child Sponsorship non-governmental organisation dedicated to the long term development of children living in poverty across the world.

CIG is currently working with seven regions in Ghana in partnership with about 34 churches and taking care of over 8,000 children until, they reached the age of 22.

Mrs Appiah described poverty in Ghana as a "national scourge" worsening the vulnerability of children and called for a united front in fighting it.

She advised the pastors, CPC members and CDWs to conscientiously impact Godly values into children in their care.

Mrs Appiah entreated them to always respect the rights of children entrusted to their care and also protect them from all forms of abuses.

The Country Director urged the workers to blend physical, social, economic and spiritual care together as a holistic approach to child development.

Mr Isaac Donkor, a member of the advisory council of CIG, told the participants to see themselves as gatekeepers of the children and reminded them that their core mandate was to work hard to transform the lives of children living in poverty and urged them to be faithful, God fearing, trustworthy and dependable.

Mr Benjamin Asare Yeboah, Senior Manager of Partnership of CIG, commended the participants for the sense of duty and prudent management of resources allocated to them.