Child neglect cases soar in the Eastern Region

Koforidua, Sept. 20, GNA - Statistics at both the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police, indicate a rise in the phenomenon of parental neglect in the maintenance of their children in the Eastern Region, particularly, in the mining and urban settlements.

About 300 cases were received by the Eastern Regional office of the DOVVSU between April and June, this year, while the Department of Social Welfare recorded 342 during the same period.

The DSW handled 937 of such cases in 2005 and 835 in 2004. Presenting a report on the Development of the Child in the Eastern Region to mark the region's observance of this year's Children's Day at Koforidua, a Welfare Officer with the DSW, Mr Ernest Opare, disclosed that child maintenance cases continued to dominate the work of the Department.

He listed the Kwaebibirem, Kwahu West, Akuapem South and Birim North districts, as well as the New Juaben Municipality, as the large urban settlements, where the incidence of non-maintenance of children, were particularly rife.

He attributed the incidence to neglect, not just by parents, but also by the society, a situation, which he adduced, was contributing increases in juvenile delinquency in the region.

A direct manifestation of child neglect, Mr Opare pointed out, was the increasing number of minors in the region now coming in conflict with the law, which stood at 35 for the year 2005.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Eunice Annor, officer in-charge of the DOVVSU, said her outfit had between April and June this year, handled over 300 non-maintenance cases, as well as 40 cases of defilement and rape.

She said the unit was enlisting the support of Koforidua Regional Hospital to get a clinical psychologist to work on traumatized children brought to their care.

DSP Annor also spoke about the aspiration of the Unit to create desks in all divisional and district headquarters of the police in the region but regretted that severe logistics constraints was bedevilling the unit's ability to deliver on some intentions and appealed for support.

Among the needs, she listed, were the lack of a vehicle, personnel with the requisite skills in handling abused children and a poor finance base to enable it re-settle abused and neglected victims.

The Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Children, Mr Anthony Dontoh, pleaded with society to show more compassion and love to children so they do not fall in harm's way and become liability to the nation.

He encouraged the media to be at the fore-front in disseminating information on child right, child protection and their development.