Sekondi, Dec. 05, GNA - Osabarima Kwaw Entsie II, Omanhene of Mpohor Traditional Area, on Tuesday expressed concern about the increase in child neglect particularly in small-scale mining communities in the Western Region.
He noted that it was common practice in these communities to see children expected to be in school loitering around without parental control.
Osabarima Entsie was addressing the opening session of a forum on the Report of United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on Ghana's 2004 Composite Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at Sekondi.
The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) organized the forum attended by representatives from Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC), Ghana National Population Council (GNPC), Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), media and students.
Osabarima Entsie therefore, called on stakeholders on Rights of the Child to come out with strategies to reduce child neglect in those communities.
Mr Benjamin Whyte, Western Regional Population Officer, expressed concern about child labour and irresponsible parenting.
He stressed the need to strengthen the capacities of institutions concerned with Rights of the Child to tackle these problems. Mr Whyte said children should be educated against effects of pornographic materials on the Internet and advised to use the Internet to educate themselves.
Mr Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi, Research Officer of GNCC, speaking on the report of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, said it recommended that Government should expedite efforts in adopting and effectively implementing a comprehensive plan of action of the convention on the rights of the child.
He said the report also recommended the establishment of a department within the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to deal specifically with child rights and allocate adequate financial and human resources for its effective functioning. Mr Kyei-Gyamfi said the report urged Government to take all necessary legal and other measures including advisory campaigns directed at parents, guardians, teachers and cooperate with Internet providers to protect children from being exposed to harmful material such as violence and pornography.
He said the report prohibited all forms of corporal punishment in the family; schools, institutions and alternative care systems. Mr Kyei-Gyamfi said the report recommended the effective implementation of the Human Trafficking Act and full implementation of juvenile justice standards.
He said it asked Government to undertake necessary measures to reduce mortality rates by improving pre-natal care and preventing communicable diseases, enforce the Salt Iodation Law and continue to encourage exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
Mr Kyei-Gyamfi said the report recommended the strengthening of legislations and the embarking of awareness creation campaigns to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and eradicate other traditional practices harmful to the health, survival and development of children especially girls. 05 Dec. 06
