By Regina Benneh
Sunyani, (Bono), June 26, GNA-Mr George Yaw Ankamah, the Bono Regional Director of the Department of Children has is calling for stiffer punishment for people who violate the fundamental human rights and dignity of children.
He said the maltreatment of children remained a serious crime, and an affront to the 1992 Constitution and other international conventions.
Mr Ankamah gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani in reaction to a disturbing viral video in which a young child is being subjected to brutal and inhumane physical assault.
The Ghana Police Service said they have arrested two suspects in connection with the crime so far.
Mr Ankamah said: “Ghana is the first nation to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which emphasizes the protection and well-being of children,” worrying that the convention was often overlooked due to some socio-cultural and religious beliefs.
He noted that the maltreatment of children “is a reflection of social ills” stressing the need for a collective effort to protect the rights of children and to create a safe environment for them to grow holistically.
“In fact, stiffer punishment for child abusers is necessary to serve as deterrence to like-minded others who cause various forms of harm to children.”
Mr Ankamah said: “Children have the right to protection from abuse, exploitation, and violence”, saying “child abuse can have severe and long-lasting consequences of physical and emotional trauma, and even death.”
He urged families to take the responsibility of protecting their children and correct them whenever they went wrong, urging parents to spend quality time with their children too.
Mr Ankamah also advised parents to monitor their children on the use of social media which could influence them adversely.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah /Benjamin Mensah