African govts urged to establish ministries solely for children

Kumasi, Jan. 16, GNA- An appeal has been made to African governments to establish special ministries to handle affairs of children alone in their countries.

Mr Kobina Amo-Aidoo, President of the Children of Africa Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said such ministries would help governments to deal well with problems of African children and effectively address them.

Mr Amo-Aidoo made the appeal at a press conference organised by the Foundation in Kumasi on Friday to highlight the plight of the Africa child and suggest measures that could be adopted by African governments and world bodies to remedy the situation.

He stated that such ministries should make the provision of quality education, health care and accommodation their leading agenda.

Mr Amo-Aidoo stressed the need for the international and donor community including the European Union (EU) and the seven highly industrial countries, United Nations Organisation (UNO), to play a more active role in ensuring that government of the African continent made issues concerning children a priority.

The foundation proposed that assistance packages should be offered African governments only after the donor communities satisfy that such governments "have pragmatic programmes that effectively address the problems of children ".