By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA
Ejisu (Ash), April 28, GNA – Right to play Ghana has urged the government to post teachers to rural schools facing severe staff deficits.
It said staff attrition was so high that some schools expected to have nine teachers have as low as two teachers, which impeded the delivery of quality teaching and learning.
It is therefore lobbying for budgetary allocations to ensure adequate resources for social workers to follow up on child-related issues and get proper closures on such cases.
Mr. Julius Kwami Tsatsu, Project Manager, My Life My Right Project, an initiative by Right to Play Ghana, said issues of child labour existed and stressed the need for adequate resource allocation, especially to the Department of Social Welfare to boost service delivery for victims.
Placing emphasis on Adansi South and Asunafo North where the My Life, My Right project is being implemented, he said with over 400 communities in each of these districts, there were less than five motor bikes for social workers to use in travelling to follow up on child issues.
Mr. Tsatsu, who was speaking at the Annual Learning Forum of the My Life, My Right Project at Ejisu, described the situation as appalling and called for immediate actions to tackle social protection issues effectively.
My Life, My Rights Project is a three-year project (2024-2027) sponsored by Nyankopa Cocoa together with Barry Callebaut to improve the protective environment in the cocoa growing areas and engender child protection, quality education and empower community members.
The project is currently working in 50 communities in the Ashanti and Ahafo regions.
Operating under the theme: “Strengthening Quality Education Through Child Protection and Inclusive Practices,” the forum provided a critical space to review project milestones and build stronger partnerships across all sectors.
Mr. Tsatsu, highlighting some of the project’s breakthroughs, mentioned that through effective community engagement incidence of child labour and abuse had reduced, and community members now report the few incidents without hesitation.
Currently, 412 trained teachers are actively using play-based learning in their classrooms, with ongoing support from 100 dedicated Teacher Champions.
Through the initiative, 978 community members have joined Village Savings and Loans Associations, largely driven by females, and have generated over GH₵1.6 million.
Community members are using these funds to expand small businesses, pay school fees, and hire agricultural support.
Mr. Iljitsj Wemerman, Interim Country Director for Right to Play Ghana, called on stakeholders to strengthen collaborations across all levels of government, deepen shared commitment to children, and translate discussions actions that bridge the gap between national policy and community practice.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah
Email: [email protected]