Government to eradicate streetism, child trafficking

Deputy Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Gifty Twum has intimated that government is making efforts towards eradicating the menace of child trafficking and hawking in the country.

Speaking at the 2017 National Children’s Day event held in Accra, the Minister indicated government’s intentions of collecting background information of street children through a bio-data system; a move she says will help keep them off the streets and help reunite with their families.

Mrs. Twum also mentioned that households of various deprived kids will be enrolled as beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme which disburses funds to the poorest households in Ghana as well as the NHIS package.

She charged various stakeholders to address issues of violence against children adding that, government is in the process of renovating old shelters to accommodate victims of human trafficking.

The plan, she explained will establish and maintain a supportive and friendly environment that would provide victims with equitable access to facilities as well as facilitate their integration and enable them become functional members of society.

Television personality and Executive Director of pumpkins foundation, Baisiwa Dowuona Hammond who was also in attendance, urged various stakeholders to instill in themselves the spirit of selflessness and volunteerism as she charged parents to encourage and make time for their children.

She was hopeful of a more compassionate network of all future generations if children are empowered to be each other’s keeper.

Pumpkins Foundation, a non-government organisation, focused on promoting the general wellbeing of poor and needy children and adding value to the lives of the less privileged children in the city and rural areas, held the 2017 edition of National Children’s Day event.