GACA engages Charismatic Council and Child Trafficking NGOs to protect children against child abuse

Ghanaians Against Child Abuse (GACA), a Child Protection Social Drive campaign has engaged the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) and Coalition of NGOs Against Child Trafficking (CNACT) through courtesy calls in an effort to rally support for the fast growing campaign to reduce child abuse.

Launched by Samira Bawumia in November 2017, the drive aims to garner support from Ghanaians to prevent all forms of child abuse in the country through positive reinforcement messaging.

GACA is led by the Government of Ghana in collaboration with UNICEF and with the support of Global Affairs Canada, the Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

As part of efforts to solidify the campaign, the GACA team called on the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), a Christian body that oversees over 200 member churches in Ghana.

The visit to the GPCC provided an opportunity for the Campaign team to engage them on goals of the drive, lead them to take the GACA pledge, as well as to familiarize themselves and learn the important role of the GPCC in ensuring a protective and safe environment from all forms of harm for children and discussed how the GPCC could support through their network of churches.

Later, the team also called on the Coalition of NGOs Against Child Trafficking (CNACT), a network of NGOs with the vision of a world free from child-trafficking where children thrive, are protected, and fully develop their potential.

In line with the activities of GACA, the CNACT will engage member Non-Government organizations on how they can provide the needed support to sustain the campaign seeing child trafficking is an important component in the GACA campaign. They also led members to take the GACA pledge against child abuse.

Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF, Emelia Allan stated that GACA’s aim is to mobilize communities, religious leaders, parents, traditional rulers, families and individuals across the country to take the stand as well as actions that protect children from all forms of child abuse.

"We need to give our children the platform to learn, grow and plan for a brighter future. The only way this can be achieved is when we have concerted support from all stakeholders like the CNACT and GPCC in the fight against child abuse for the greater interest of our children,” Ms. Allan said.

She was optimistic that such support would help change the narrative on how Ghanaians protect children from all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Both the GPCC and CNACT teams took turns to pledge their support in preventing all forms of child abuse through their existing programmes.