By Victoria Agyemang, GNA
Cape Coast, Aug 26, GNA – The Central Regional Child Protection Committee (CRCPC) has intensified community sensitisation programmes, to educate children and parents on child abuse and protection ahead of this year’s Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast.
The initiative forms part of efforts to safeguard children during the festival, when large numbers of residents, visitors and tourists converged at the Metropolis for various activities.
The Committee is engaging children in schools and communities on issues including sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, child trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
The sensitisation also seeks to equip children with knowledge on their rights and encourage them to speak to trusted adults or report situations that made them feel unsafe.
Madam Ivy Amartey, the Regional Director for the Department of Children made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, on the Committee’s preparedness towards ensuring the safety and security of children during the festivities.
She mentioned that Committee members were expected to engage parents, guardians and community leaders about their responsibilities towards protecting children and creating safe environments for them during the festival.
Madam Amartey who is part of the CRCPC cautioned parents and guardians against neglecting their duties of paying particular attention to their children during crowded festival activities and to avoid leaving them in the care of people who were not trustworthy.
She further urged community members to be vigilant and promptly report suspected cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
The move comes as Cape Coast prepares to host the Fetu Afahye, the annual festival held in the last week of August to second week in September, that attracts large crowds from across Ghana and beyond.
The CRCPC said protecting children was a collective responsibility that community members, parents, traditional authorities, schools and law enforcement agencies all had important roles to play in ensuring a safe festival.
It encouraged children to remain alert, stay close to trusted adults during public events and seek help whenever they felt threatened or uncomfortable.
The sensitisation programme is expected to continue in communities and other places where children gather as part of preparations towards the festival.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/ Christabel Addo