NGOs commemorate Day of African Child

Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in the Northern Region have commemorated the African Union (AU) Day of the African Child in the Savelugu Municipality as a way of addressing challenges facing children across the country.

The NGOs included; the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed), Plan International, Songtaba, Right to play, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Vision, the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS) and the Department of Children.

The celebration brought together pupils from different communities, who marched to the Savelugu Municipal Assembly and presented a communiqué regarding the rights of the African child.

They carried placards some of which read: “Nothing happiness without the child”, “Allow me to explore”, “Allow me to play freely”, “Help me to climb the educational ladder” among others.

Ms Sarafina Akisichab, a student of the Tamale Senior High School, who read and presented the communiqué to the Assembly called on all to add a voice to the worldwide movement against child labour.

Serious work in legislation to protect the children from all forms of violence, immediate action from the Assembly and duty bearers, and the fight against child labour was the call for action in the communiqué.

Madam Fawzia Sakara, the Assistant Director of the Savelugu Municipal Assembly who received the communiqué on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive pledged the Assembly’s readiness to help end child labour.

Mr William Anim-Dankwa, the Communications Manager of CCFC said the theme for this year’s celebration: “Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First” was appropriate and that the celebration in the Northern region adopted “Children’s Rights First” as its theme so as to make it easy to remember for prompt action.

Mr Felix Apeti, the Cluster Manager of World Vision described it as prudent for every child to have the fullness of life, which called for the need to collaborate between NGOs and government agencies to end child marriages by promoting birth certification for children.

As part of the programme, the pupils toured the Tamale Airport where professionals talked to them on diverse fields in relation to education at the Tamale Air Force Base.