Afrikids saves children perceived to be "spirit children" in Upper East

Bolgatanga, Nov. 8, GNA - Afrikids, a grassroots Non-Governmental Organization has been able to save a number of children perceived to be "spirit children" in some parts of the Kassena-Nankana West District in the Upper East Region. "These children were sometimes killed as a result," Mr Nicholas Kumah, Country Director of Afrikids said this at the awards ceremony of the staff of Afrikids in Bolgatanga on Friday. He explained that many of the community members concluded that as soon as a child was born with some deformities, that child was a spirit child and hence did not deserve to live. Mr Kumah said to address the problem, Afrikids embarked on an extensive education for stakeholders who were allegedly engaged in killing children believed to be spirit children. He indicated that they were also empowered economically with alternative means of livelihood and this had made them stop the practice.

Mr Kumah said Afrikids was also able to rescue 120 children from the Talensi-Nabdam District, many of whom were engaged in small scale mining activities.

He said they were given formal education with 30 of them undergoing vocational training, and that the parents and guardians were supported financially to cater for the children. Mr Kumah stated that Afrikids through its operation "Fresh Start" had brought 150 children who migrated to the southern parts of the country back to the region with some being given formal education and vocational training.

"Two had already sat and passed the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Examination, one had gained admission to Teacher Training College and one is now IT Instructor in our ICT Centre," he said.

Mr Kumah said Afrikids was currently providing shelter for the orphans, deprived and abandoned children in the region. He explained that the NGO was able to carry out its activities through the support of its UK donors and staff, District Assemblies, Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Private Road Transport Union, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), and Ghana Health Service among others.

Some of the staff of Afrikids who were honoured for their hard work took home items including DVD Players, Laptop computers, MP3 Players, bicycles and cloth.

The Country Director commended the staff for their hard work and dedication to duty, and urged them to continue to work harder to increase productivity. He thanked the corporate bodies including the Ghana Commercial Bank, Agriculture Development Bank, EX-tee Electricals, Andrews Adjei Enterprise, Salifu Enterprise and Quality Insurance Company for their donations towards the awards.