Female genital mutilation & early marriages affect children

Wa (Upper West) 28 November 2001- Female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriages, broken homes and child neglect have been identified as major problems facing children in the Upper West Region, according to a survey conducted by the Department of Social Welfare.

The Survey also showed that discrimination against girls in education and training for vocational skills, seen as the preserve of boys, was stifling the initiative of girls.

Speaking at the launch of the Ghana's Children Report 2000 on the region, Mr. William Niyuni, Wa District Officer of the Department of Social Welfare stressed the need for all child-related agencies to intensify education particularly on child neglect, which had assume alarming proportions.

"If we adopt the family planning programme I believe it would go a long way to take good care of our children in a qualitative manner".

The launch brought together about 100 people made up of teachers and pupils, District Chief Executives and Presiding Members of district assemblies.

Mr. Sahanun Mogtari, Regional Minister in a speech read for him, called on district assemblies to make significant budgetary allocations for the total development of children.

He pledged the Regional Coordinating Council's support to ensure that all problems affecting the development of the child were cleared.

Mrs. Clare Der, Regional Coordinator of the Ghana National Commission on Children, called on district assemblies to make use of the report to guide them in the preparation of children's projects in the region.

She expressed regret that child diseases, maternal mortality and child abandoning were rising in spite of the numerous public education programmes.