Minister concerned over Children's rights

Tamale, June 17, GNA - Mr. Moses Mabengba, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, on Tuesday expressed worry about the violation of children's rights by parents and teachers in the country.

He said the situation had resulted in some children dropping out of school and others losing focus on their future plans. Mr. Mabengba was addressing children to mark the international Day of the African Child on the theme: "Right to Participate: let children be Seen and Heard", in Tamale.

The programme was organized by Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development (CALID), ActionAid Ghana and Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), all non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Mr. Mabengba said some children became wayward, drug addicts and unproductive due to the lack of parental care. He said government was committed to using education as a catalyst to promote human-centered development and improve the standards of living of the people.

Mr. Mabengba said the authorities would pay particular attention to technical and vocational educational institutions so that they could spearhead the country's development agenda. He commended NGOs for their cont ribution to the development of education in the country. Mr. Sumani Bapio Mohammed Awal, Programmes Coordinator of CALID, called for the creation of more opportunities for children to enable them to explore their talents and make right decisions about their lives. He said the youth were becoming sophisticated and needed special protection and guidance from society. Madam Wendy Otu, official of CAMFED, observed that even though Ghana was signatory to various conventions and protocols on the rights of the child, provisions of these documents were not respected by the people. She urged government to strengthen youth programmes to enable young people to acquire knowledge and skills required for national development. 1