By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA
Yagaba (NE/R), Dec 24, GNA – AfriKids Ghana, in collaboration with its partners, has successfully organised the first-ever Child Rights Festival under its flagship “One Million Smiles Programme”, marking a major milestone in child rights advocacy in northern Ghana.
The colourful festival, held at Yagaba in the Mamprugu-Moagduri District, brought together children, traditional authorities, government officials and community leaders from the Mamprugu Moagduri District in the North East Region and Builsa South District in the Upper East Region.
The two districts are among the three districts currently implementing the programme.
The event provided a vibrant platform for children from selected schools across both districts to showcase their talents while advocating for their rights.
Through drama, cultural performances, poetry recitals, speeches and other creative expressions, the children highlighted key child rights issues affecting their lives and communities.
Celebrated under the theme “For Every Child, Every Right,” the festival underscored AfriKids Ghana’s commitment to ensuring that all children, irrespective of their background or location, enjoyed their fundamental rights.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr Raymond Akolbire Ayinne, the Communication and Advocacy Manager, Mr David Pwalua, the Country Director of AfriKids Ghana, described the festival as more than a celebration, noting that it was a powerful platform for dialogue between children and duty bearers.
“This festival is a space where children and duty bearers can engage meaningfully, listen to one another, and strengthen our shared commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of every child,” he said.
He added that the event also showcased the talents and creativity of children, demonstrating their potential to contribute positively to their communities when given the opportunity.
Mr Pwalua expressed gratitude to the District Assemblies, the Ghana Education Service, traditional rulers and community members for their support, describing their collaboration as critical to the success of the initiative.
He further called on district assemblies, schools, traditional authorities and communities across the country to adopt the Child Rights Festival as a regular activity, even in areas where AfriKids does not operate.
“Let the Child Rights Festival become a tradition across all districts in Ghana. By doing so, we will ensure that every child has a voice and a platform to be heard,” he urged.
The One Million Smiles Programme is a five-year strategic initiative launched in 2022, aimed at promoting inclusive development and the overall well-being of children in northern Ghana.
The programme focuses on building strong partnerships to create resilient and enabling communities in 320 communities across six districts in Northern Ghana.
It also seeks to empower communities to protect children from harmful practices such as child marriage and teenage pregnancy, while improving access to inclusive and quality education and healthcare, in line with Ghana’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Abdul Rahman Aziz, the District Chief Executive for Mamprugu-Moagduri, commended AfriKids Ghana for its tireless efforts in championing child rights, particularly in a district noted for child rights abuse cases.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting AfriKids Ghana’s interventions to ensure that children in the district were safe, educated and healthy, and called for sustained collaboration among all stakeholders to safeguard the rights and future of children.
Mr Julius Ofori, the Mamprugu-Moagduri District Director of the Ghana Education Service, commended AfriKids Ghana and its partners for the intervention, adding that the programme had helped to improve access to education among children in the area.
Naa Solomon Naaza Nagberana Namaltenga, Chief of Yikpabongu, lauded the impact of the project, saying that the project had not only empowered the communities to modify certain cultural practices but had also contributed to many children, especially girls to stay in schools.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Christian Akorlie