Accra, June 14, GNA - Mr. Alex Tettey Enyo, Minister of Education at the weekend noted that the hostility children afflicted by mental illnesses suffer from their parents and other relatives is due to ignorance and superstition.

He said these unfortunate children were often marginalised, stigmatised and neglected by society. Mr. Tettey Enyo made the observation in a speech read on his behalf, in Accra, during the inauguration of Help Our Children Foundation (HOCfound), a non governmental organisation (NGO) that seeks to rehabilitate mentally challenged children. The NGO also aims to work towards a positive change in children's mental health care, prevent and control development disabilities and substance abuse among children and extend mental care to the door steps of the people.

The Education Minister said some mentally challenged children were killed right after birth or disposed off in rivers, forests and isolated places to die.

He said others were sacrificed for ritual purposes by certain individuals to either acquire wealth or to fortify themselves spiritually.

Mr. Tettey Enyo said these practices tend to erode the self esteem, and dignity of the victims leading to the suppression of their productive capabilities and dependence on others for survival. He said the UN declaration on Human Rights states that children had a right to education to ensure their growth and development in order to fulfil their individual aspirations.

Mr. Tettey Enyo said no human being was useless unless the right opportunities, attention and care were not given to him or her. He said the passage of the disability law, would facilitate the improvement of programmes and infrastructural services aimed at bettering the plight of persons with disabilities, so that "together we can build mother Ghana".

Under the law Information Communication and Technology (ICT) programmes for disabled persons is a priority. He said government would do everything possible to establish ICT centres in Special Schools to enable persons with disabilities to realize their potentials for the development of the country. Dr. Fred Mac Palm, Executive Director of HOC Found said government should enact a law that would make it possible to prosecute divine healers who mal-treat mentally challenged persons in prayer camps. He said the fetters they put on mental patients to restrict their movement and other inhuman treatment were violations of their human rights.