DOVVSU invites four staff of Osu Children's Home for questioning

Accra, Sept. 2, GNA - Four staff of the Osu Children's Home have been invited by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for questioning following the release of a video tape on activities in the home.

Mrs Sharon Abbey, Manageress of the Home, said she received a letter from DOVVSU last Wednesday inviting the four members of staff captured on the video tape.

"This morning I asked them to respond to the invitation at the Unit."

However, Mrs Abbey did not disclose the names of those invited when

Mrs Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) visited the Home on Thursday.

She toured the Home to gain first hand information on their operations, following the release of the video tape by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, on activities at the home.

Mrs Abbey said she was shocked and worried about the tape, saying she had instituted measures to promote the welfare of the 200 inmates with 42 care givers.

"I monitor activities at the Home, and have supervisors at the various homes. Whenever I notice some lapses in the work of care givers I talk to them and see how best the situation could be improved," she added.

On their menu, she was lost for words, saying 93we have prepared a menu chart for the inmates. We even add eggs to their food".

Mrs Gariba said the issues would be investigated and the necessary actions taken.

On the alleged sale of items donated to the home, she gave the assurance that those found culpable would be prosecuted.

Mrs Gariba noted that the situation captured on the tape was unacceptable and the Department of Social Welfare would step up its supervisory role to avert some of the concerns raised.

She expressed concern about the unsanitary conditions in the Home and asked the staff to ensure that gutters around the kitchen were cleaned and refuse disposed of properly.

"What we need to do now is to ensure constant supervision by the Department of Social Welfare on the home," she remarked.

She urged the staff to make public the plight of abused children sent to the home, and advised care givers to pay more attention to the inmates, adding 93some of them are victims of circumstances and should not be victimised".