Talk to your children about sex - Otiko urges parents

The Gender Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, has called for "public and open discussion of sexuality in our homes where parents engage their wards and advise them of their sexual life".

“It's about time we stopped seeing issues about sex as a taboo in Ghana and Africa,” she advised.

Madam Djaba gave the advice during the launch of "Ghanaian Against Child Abuse" initiative to promote Children's welfare.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the Local Government and Education Ministries as well as development partners launched the programme in Accra Tuesday to promote the welfare of children across the country.

Over the years, abuse perpetuated against children is on the ascendency and the ministry is bent on ensuring that children receive the support and care they need. Therefore, the initiative, titled "Ghanaian Against Child Abuse" is to educate all and sundry on the need to promote children's rights and protect them.

She mentioned that about 33% of Children are abused sexually, between 22% – 27% of children are in child labour. And that female child is valued less and abused the more in our society.

She lamented that most of these abuses are as a result of our socio-cultural norms. And that even though the government is playing its role efficiently, parents should play their roles as real parents and not think government, ministries, agencies would solve all issues relating to abuses.

The Gender Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, vehemently condemned the acts of violence perpetrated against children and said that child abuses are intentional and must be treated with all seriousness.

She also noted that sooner than later, Child Right Clubs will be in operation for the Children to interact and be educated more across the country. And that policies will continue to be formulated to guide them. One of such actions to be taken is the waiver of the Birth Registry fee which is GHC 10 to enable all children get registered.

Also, the punishment for not sending your wards to school being either 1-year imprisonment or payment of GHC 500 or both is being reviewed for harsher and stiffer one. She ended by appealing that the children must not only be seen but must also be heard to bring out their grievances.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Education Minister, Barbara Asher Ayisi, submitted that we should use education as a tool to change our society. Thus, we need a collective responsibility to work and promote the interest of children.