Traditional authorities blamed over inadequate protection for children

Nankesedo (C/R), Dec. 5, GNA - Nana Baah VII, chief of Saltpond Lower Town, has blamed traditional authorities for not doing much in their communities to protect children and preventing them from going wayward.

"Where even the assemblies have enacted bylaws to control the movement of children, especially at night, we do not enforce them," Nana Baah, who is also the Nimfahene of the Nkusukum Traditional Area said in an address at a durbar at Nankesedo to mark the "Ayerye" festival. The festival is celebrated annually to commemorate the migration of the people from Techiman in Brong Ahafo to their present place of abode. Nana Baah cautioned Ghanaians against discarding the extended family system, which he said was very useful in the upbringing of children.

"Under the extended family system, the role of being 'a brother's keeper' manifests and one can discipline any child found misbehaving without any fear of protest from the parents." The chief, who is a teacher by profession, urged his colleagues to show concern about the poor results of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) recorded by schools of the area by initiating programmes to arrest the situation. Nana Baah on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the NPP administration for elevating the Mfantseman District Assembly to a Municipal status.

He appealed to President J A Kufuor to ensue that the second phase of the rehabilitation of the Saltpond town roads was completed before the end of his tenure. He also commended Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Member of Parliament for the area for the good work he was doing to develop the area.