The fourth biennial conference of the Pan African Presbyterian Men’s Fellowship (PAPMF) has ended in Lusaka, Zambia, with a call on African leaders to put in place stringent policies towards the protection of children against human rights abuse, exploitation, and cessation of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

In a communiqué presented at the end of the four-day conference by the General Secretary of the Pan African Presbyterian Men’s Fellowship, Dr. Benny Boshielo, participants expressed concern about inadequate attention by many governments on the continent to issues of injustice and exploitation against children and victims of GBV.

The conference, attended by Ghana and other African countries, including Zambia, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Lesotho, Malawi, and Uganda, as well as the All Africa Conference of Churches and the AU, was held on the theme “Towards a world of justice for the African Child.”

Deliberating on the theme, participants identified with pain and discontent, the rising incidence of child labour, torture, and various forms of inhumane treatment against the African child in conflict zones and other countries plagued with ecological devastation, and therefore urged African leaders to prioritize the protection of children and the elimination of GBV.

The conference participants emphasized the need for the Pan African Presbyterian Men’s Fellowship to reinforce its partnership with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the AU, aimed at leveraging the influence of the two continental bodies in the advocacy towards sustainable peace and stability for the Africa we want.

The communiqué underscored the need for the Fellowship to intensify its evangelism drive and advocacy to ensure that citizens of respective African countries elect into office God-fearing leaders with virtues of integrity, competence, modesty, and loyalty to avert the high level of corruption and other criminal activities inimical to good governance, sustainable development, and economic growth.

The conference encouraged Fellowships in their various countries to intensify climate change adaptation initiatives such as tree planting and other forms of environmental conservation interventions, while facilitating the incorporation of climate change issues in the curricula of educational institutions, ecumenical faith seminars, and Sunday school lessons.

Ghana’s delegation was jointly led by the Clerk of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Rev. Dr. Lawson Dzanku, and Mr. Foster Agotse, the National President of the Men’s Fellowship, who also serves as the Deputy General Secretary of the Pan African Presbyterian Men’s Fellowship.