By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, May 22, GNA— A recent review of Ghana’s children’s homes has increased funding and specialized care to support vulnerable children as challenges.
Members of Parliament’s Gender, Children, and Social Welfare Committee are calling for improved resources and collaboration between stakeholders to ensure that children’s homes could provide quality care and support.
The Committee Chairperson, Reverend Helen Adjoa Ntoso, made the call during a day’s visit to Royal Seed Home, an orphanage in Kasoa-Ofankor Papase, in the Central Region on Thursday.
The Committee’s visit as part of its oversight responsibility had the goal of inspecting facilities standards and requisite training for the caring of children with special needs.
According to Mr Slyvester Kumadey, Social Worker, Royal Seed Home, “We are facing funding constraints, caregiver shortages, and infrastructure issues, which are affecting our ability to provide quality care for the children.”
The home currently cares for 69 children, 34 staff and 16 caregivers.
Madam Andrina Nettey, a Social Welfare Officer in Charge of Royal Seed Home, noted that social welfare was working with the institution to ensure the safety of Children in their care.
To address these challenges, the Committee recommended an increased funding to address funding constraints and ensure adequate care and support for children, specialized facilities and training to care for children with complex needs, including mental health issues, collaboration with stakeholders to provide support and resources.
Others were family reunification efforts to ensure that children were cared for by their families whenever possible and standards and quality assurance to ensure that children’s homes provided quality care and support.
“These recommendations aim to address the challenges faced by children’s homes and improve the care and support provided to vulnerable children,” Reverened Ntoso, also the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi West, said.
She also called on government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and other stakeholders to provide support and resources to children’s homes.
“By working together, it is possible to improve the care and support provided to vulnerable children and ensure that they receive the best possible start in life,” she said.
Madam Adelaide Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim, Ranking of the Gender, Children and Social Welfare Committee, and also the New Patriotic Party MP for Nsuta-Kwamang Beposo said the plight of the Children’s Home was a wake-up call for all.
“As the Ranking for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, I am deeply concerned about the challenges facing these institutions. The fact that they are struggling to provide adequate care and support to children is unacceptable,” she said.
She called for a collective effort to make a difference in the lives of these children and help them reach their full potential.
The Royal Seed Home was established in 2002 by Dr Nana Ntow Amoah Klordey II after she returned from the street as a result of broken home.
It has a school, an infirmary with two nurses managing it, a pitch, cadet, and a brass band.
GNA
CA/