Special Parliamentary Session For Children

The marble ship-like Chinese construction, the National Theater Building in Accra, was on Tuesday 24th April, parked to capacity by children who gathered there to mark the occasion of United nations Children's Day (UNCD).

The occasion, which was graced by President John Agyekum Kufuor's presence and interaction with the children, made it an extra ordinary one.

Addressing the children, President Kufuor said he is not to be summoned by special session of parliament to answer questions, but rather it is his ministers who are summoned for hearing. Adding, because "you are special people in this house, that makes it a special session of parliament, and that is why I am here for your hearing".

President Kufuor assured the Ghanaian children of his government's concern about their welfare. He said the children's education; their fast growth and improvement of their lives are a top priority for his government.

He lamented that was the reason behind his government's decision to create the position of Special Minister in Charge of Children's Education, which prompted the special budgetary allocation for children in this year's national budget. He called on parents to give the best to their children by caring and loving them.

At the occasion were some members of the Diplomatic Corps, NGOs representatives and the UNCEF resident boss who did not play on words in outlining the horrible and inhuman treatment meted out to many African children.

She cited classic examples of children sold into slavery in the Sudan, Gabon, La Cote'd Ivoire and Mauritania wrapping it with the recent disappearance of the 200 plus children that where alleged to be on the high seal in the Eterino boat of Nigeria.

In her closing statement, she called on all African governments to exert every effort in ensuring the protection of children's rights in the continent.

In a related development, a Kumasi-based businessman and a renowned Ghanaian, Architectural Engineer, Mr. Ernest Banings, Chief Executive of Royal Basin Resort, during the Easter round-up party for children at the Kumasi home, joined the Adum Ladies Club, in granting scholarship to two wards of Kumasi Children's Home.

The scholarship, which covers education from primary to SSS or high school level, was donated in support of the educational endowment fund of the Ashanti king/Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Ghanaians experience in both the Atlantic Slave Trade and that of Colonialism has articulated their inclination for been at the vanguard of the then independent struggle in Africa. Those experiences have also urged them to treat their children with care, love and thus pressing for an end to child slavery in Africa, said an ex-serviceman. "Our country today was renown worldwide as a central transit point for slaves from all over West Africa. We can not therefore sit down idle by and look at child slavery to flourish in Africa.