Use proceeds to support children's education

Obuasi, Sept. 15, GNA - A suggestion has been made to the Adansi West District Assembly to use the proceeds of the 100,000 cedis fine impose on parents whose children are arrested during the curfew hours to support the basic education of needy children in the district.

The assembly this year imposed the curfew which banned under-18 years children from going out after 8 pm and parents of children found during the curfew hours are made to pay a fine of 100,000 cedis before the child is released by the enforcement agencies.

Mr Ebenezer Okai, a resident of Brahabebome, a suburb of Obuasi who made the suggestion at an educational forum on the effective enforcement of the curfew held at Brahabebome said though the assembly had a scholarship scheme, basic school children are not beneficiaries.

"I am suggesting to the assembly to use the proceeds from the curfew to sponsor the education of needy children in the communities," he said.

The educational forum was organised by Inter-Christian Aid Voluntary Agency (ICAVA), a local non-governmental organisation which seeks to promote the rights and welfare of children, for the community leaders including the assembly members, nananom and unit committee members.

The Obuasi Divisional Police Crime Officer, Mr Wisdom Lavoe who was the main resource person enumerated a number of reasons which forced the assembly to come out with the curfew.

Among the reasons, he said, were to enhance the learning abilities of the children and to check immoral practices as well as the involvement of the youth in crime activities.

Mr Lavoe emphasised the need for parents to control their children's movements especially at night so that they can avoid the temptation of falling into bad companies.

The Divisional Crime Officer said the imposition of the curfew was a good idea and commended ICAVA for taking the initiative to educate the public on it.

Mr Samuel Ofosu Addo, the Executive Director of ICAVA said they intended to extend the education programme to all communities in the district but for the start Brahabebome, Kwabenakwa, Mampamhwe, Asonkore and Domeabra would be covered.

He said ICAVA has designed a two-year implementation programme during which they would spearhead the formation of virgins club, widows groups, youth voluntary clubs as well as counselling services to promote the well-being of the disadvantaged and vulnerable in the society.