General News of Tuesday, 7 April 2009

Source: GNA

Child rights abuse up in Central Region

Cape Coast, April 7, GNA - A total of 573 children's rights abuse related cases were reported at the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAG) in the Central Region last year. The problem also ranks highest in the overall number of 1,261 cases recorded during the period, Mr Joseph Alex Donkor, Regional Principal Registration manager of CHRAJ, said on Tuesday.

He said Twifo Praso and Dunkwa-On-Offin, in the Twifo-Hemang-Lower and Upper Denkyira districts recorded the highest of 88 and 77 cases respectively, followed by Breman Asikuma in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa district with 68 cases.

He expressed concern about the high rate of child abuse cases in the Region and advised parents to be considerate when punishing or disciplining their children.

He noted that the situation was not any different in Ajumako in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district where 64 cases were recorded, followed by Abura Dunkwa in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese district with 55 cases. He said 49 cases of child abuse cases were recorded in Agona Swedru, 31 each in Cape Coast and Mfantseman districts, while Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) and Gomoa districts had 29 cases each with Awutu-Senya recording 24 cases. Mr Donkor said parental neglect and child beating also featured prominently. Other cases recorded bordered on spousal maintenance and property rights.