By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Ho, May 30 GNA – Madam Akosua Asare Asamoah of the International Justice Mission (IJM) Friday stated that the Internet is always alive and does not forget.
She therefore entreated people, especially children, to be mindful of what they put out there.
Mad Asamoah stated this when she presented a paper on “case identification, documentation and referral pathways” at a one -day workshop organized by Friends of Adaklu (FOA), an NGO based in the Adaklu district for Community Child Protection Committee members drawn from four Electoral Areas in the Adaklu district.
The workshop which was held at the Residency in Ho was on the theme “Strengthening Community Child Protection System for Effective Management, Coordination and Sustainable Reintegration.”
It was funded by SOS Villages and IJM.
Mad Asamoah reminded them that whatever was put on the Internet might come haunting them in future.
She intimated that “someone can decide to use all the negative things you put out there against you to tarnish your image and destroy your marriage, career or political ambition in future.”
She therefore entreated them not to be a fan of social media adding “do not let anybody coerce you to put what you will regret tomorrow on the Internet.”
Mad Asamoah advised children not to rely solely on Artificial Intelligence in their academic pursuit but use their God-given brains to learn.
Turning to the CCPC members, she told them to see themselves as the first line of defence of children as well as work to connect their communities with a formal child protection network.
She urged them to work in a coordinated way towards child protection goals and help prevent physical and sexual abuse, exploitation of children, child neglect, and trafficking in their communities.
Mad Asamoah advised them to intensify their vigilance and education on child protection issues in their communities so as to help bring child abuse cases to the barest minimum.
She hoped the workshop would help equipped them with the requisite knowledge to identify child abuse cases.
She lamented that the rich Ghanaian moral values were being “thrown to the dogs” and pleaded with traditional authorities and religious leaders to help bring them back.
Mad Asamoah reminded parents that the home was the place where children should be groomed to become responsible adults in future.
She noted with concern that sadly most parents have neglected their parental responsibilities resulting in their children being exposed to a lot of abuse and harm.
“Our children are taking advantage of that lapse to do their own things,” she said.
Mad Asamoah entreated parents to not only provide their children with their needs but also take keen interest in what they do.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Kenneth Odeng Adade