Veep expresses concern about proliferation of orphanages

Tamale, May 13, The Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday= , expressed concern about the proliferation of orphanages, saying that was not a good sign of development for the country. He said the orphanages are gradually breaking down the social fabri= c of the country by disintegrating the time tested and cherished extended family system where children are supposed to be raised to learn the cultu= re of their forebears.

Mr. Mahama said some of the children in these orphanages are also be= ing used by some selfish and greedy individuals to solicit alms in kind and i= n cash for personal gains, adding that: "There is the need to protect and safeguard our cultural safety that takes care of the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in society." The Vice President raised these concerns in a speech read for him at=

the inauguration of the SOS Village in Tamale.

The Tamale Village brings to four the SOS Villages in the country an= d the Villager has educational, health and recreational centres as well a football academy all in-closed in one compound to provide home for 120 children. The school, however, would provide quality education for 400 pupils. SOS Village operates in 134 countries with over 500 children's villa= ges across the globe with mothers and siblings to provide a family environmen= t for the children. Mr. Mahama said research had showed that the practice of keeping children in institutions their whole lives had proven to be counter-productive to their growth, noting that it could cause retarded brain and emotional development problems and must be discouraged. He said the Government of Ghana needed to review the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the SOS Village in the 1990s since situations h= ad changed over the years. He, however, commended the SOS for its invaluable contribution towar= ds the upbringing of children in Ghana.

The Vice President said the government was committed to helping children who were living in difficult and harsh realities through its policies to bring smiles to people. Mr. Kojo Mattah, National Director of SOS Village, said the SOS Villages thrived on the benevolence of individuals and corporate bodies a= nd appealed for support from the public to support its activities. He pledged the readiness of the Village to respond to the evolving demands of children, especially those in vulnerable circumstances in the wake of increasing child abandonment, poverty and family disintegration. The Northern Regional Minister Mr. Moses Mabengba, who donated GH¢= 1000 to the orphanage, urged all, especially parents, to proclaim good family values at home in the wake of increasing child delinquencies since the family is the heart of society. He commended the management of the village for building a centre in the Northern Region and promised them the assistance of the Regional Coordinating Council if the need arose. The Consar Construction Limited that put up the structure donated a 4x4 pick-up to the SOS Village.