Parliament on Tuesday decried the spate of child abuse and suggested stiffer punishment for offenders and friendly policies and programme interventions towards the developmental needs of the child.

Members expressed various sentiments concerning child abuse following a statement made in Parliament by Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs to mark the International Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which fell on November 19, 2002.

Mrs Asmah said the Day was set aside to all over the world to focus attention on the World's children, to reflect on the various actions, which negatively affect the growth and for all round development of children.

She said since Ghana was the first country to ratify the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child it was imperative and incumbent of all to secure a bright and prosperous future of the children and the succeeding generations.

Mrs Asmah said "families would therefore have to do more than ever before, be concerned and strive for the psychological, emotional and other developmental needs of the child. The Community and its institutions like the school and churches must also make special provisions to cater for the needs of the child".

The Minister said it was regrettable that the country was still far from creating such conducive environment devoid of the problems and challenges of health, education and welfare related issues, which inhibit the holistic growth of the Ghanaian child.

Mrs Asmah said it was sad to observe that even though very progressive legislation has been passed to provide adequate safeguards for offenders of child abuse which include parents, foster parents and guardians, senior siblings, teachers and other community relations.

She said between January and October, this year, the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the police service in Accra and Kumasi received 146 complaints of rape, 431 cases of defilement and 15 cases of incest.

Mrs Asmah said "many of our societal woes; prostitution, drugs and substance abuse, rape, defilement and other forms of abuse of children have the genesis in irresponsible parenthood".

She said against the background of child abuse, rape, defilement, child trafficking and slavery and physical beatings, the concern should naturally lead to what remedies and opportunities are available to victims and what sanctions are available for offenders.

The Minister said the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs was in working relations with the Attorney General's office for the drafting of a bill on domestic violence to protect women and children from abuse.

Mrs Asmah said the justice and enforcement system should change their attitudes towards such issues while the Media should also help in protecting the integrity and image of victims of rape, defilement and other forms of abuse.

Mrs Hanna Tetteh Kpodar, NDC-Awutu Senya called on men to show a lot of sensitivity on issues concerning child abuse so that it could be minimisedor totally eradicated from the society.

She said cases of child abuse should not be viewed as merely incidents that should be brushed aside adding that such culprits should be severely punished and publicised to deter others from such acts.

Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, NPP-Tarkwa Nsuaem said it was unfortunate that children form a large percentage of the labour force in the country that can be attributed to the widespread of poverty among families.

She called on Government to either liberalise or legalise the activities of "galamsey" operators where children are mostly engaged or to ban children from been used as cheap labour in mining activities.

Mrs Edith Hazel, NDC-Evalue Gwira said the blame should partly be put at the doorsteps of women who most often find it difficult to co-operate with each other to address pertinent issues in their communities and the society.

Mr Reginald Nii Ayi-Bonte, NPP-Odododiodioo said it was regrettable that cases of rape or defilement, were often protected by family members because of incest and protection of family names while outsiders are castigated.

Mrs Theresa Baffoe, NDC-New Adubiase said the worry was that punitive measures and stiffer punishment were not handed over to the perpetrators of such crimes and suggested long sentences or castration of offenders.

Mr Modestus Ahiable, NDC-Ketu North said child abuse starts from the family, society and governmental levels whereas some parents over-protect and showing praises on their children instead of punishing for wrong doing and that leads to negative lifestyles and practices.

Mr Kwabena Sarfo, NPP-Offinso South said children require good education and upbringing to make them have employable skills instead of going through traumas at their developmental levels.

He said a worrying aspect of the issue was that the women needed to be empowered to take care of the home while another grave issue was the number of single mothers who have to single-handedly cater for their children.

Mr Stephen Buor-Karikari, NPP- Amansie West said there was the need for excessive punishment to be meted out to offenders of child abuse and commended the Media for highlighting issues concerning children.

Mr Joe Gidisu, NDC-North Tongu said it was necessary to take a critical look at causes of family life that often lead to child abuse adding that it was not only a matter of looking at legislation's alone but to look at how to recycle family life for the benefit of the child and society.