Day of African Child Marked

Accra (Greater Accra) 17 June '99

African governments have been urged to do more to ensure the survival of children who are faced with increasing incidence of violence and abuse.

Speaking at a ceremony in Accra to mark the Day of the African Child, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the First Lady, noted the progress made in protecting the rights of children and said in spite of this achievement, "we need to continue to put a spotlight on the needs of our children because there are many on-going threats to their rights and their very survival".

The day, being celebrated under the theme "Children - agents of change in the new millennium -listen, learn and live", is in remembrance of the June 16 massacre of school children demonstrating against the apartheid system of South Africa in 1976.

Since its first observance in 1991, the day has focused on the plight of children in Africa.

In Ghana, activities marking the occasion will focus on HIV/AIDS and the girl child, a mock parliamentary session, sports and an arts competition.

Nana Konadu mentioned poverty, malnutrition, armed conflict, child mortality and the scourge of HIV/AIDS as some of the areas that need to be seriously tackled.

She said, currently, it is estimated that about 40,000 Ghanaian children are HIV/AIDS positive.

She appealed to parents, teachers and role models to educate children on a daily basis on sensitive issues that affect their well being.

The First Lady's address was read by Mrs. Edith Haizel, Executive Secretary of the 31st December Women's Movement.

Mrs. Ama Benyiwah-Doe, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, stressed the need to prepare children to meet the challenges of the next millennium.

This, she said, calls for comprehensive economic policies that would promote their welfare at all levels.

Mrs. Alberta Quartey, Chairperson of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC), said African countries continue to lag behind other regions in immunisation coverage rates, school enrolment and retention, especially for girls, sanitation access and the reduction of maternal mortality.

"The use of children in combat infringes on the rights of children and corrode the social and economic structures that sustain them".

The GNCC will soon establish child welfare committees in 40 districts to ensure that the issues of children are focussed on in the developmental plans of district assemblies.

Mr William Elwood Greaves, Liberian Ambassador and the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, urged African governments to focus on developing family and educational structures that will address the needs of children.

Mr Greaves identified child labour and sexual exploitation, especially of the girl child who is lured into the sex trade that cuts across all parts of the continent.

The UNICEF Representative in Ghana, Dr Omar Abdi, said for Ghana to become a middle income country by the year 2020, it has to invest in children and adolescents who will be the workforce of tomorrow.