Ho, Feb. 11, GNA- Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, has commended the Regional Department of Children for its efforts in addressing issues affecting children in the Region.
The Minister, who gave the commendation at the first quarter session of the Regional Child Protection Committee (RCPC) in Ho, said a collaborative effort was needed to address children issues.
The meeting was to review the 2021 activities of the Committee and to discuss ways to carry out its 2022 programmes and was supported by Lolonyo Habobo of North America and Canada (LOHNAC).
LOHNAC is supporting some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Region to promote the welfare and protect the rights of children with a pilot project currently underway in Agotime-Ziope District and Ho Municipal.
Dr Letsa said the Department needed funds and logistics to enhance performance and called for support from stakeholders to safeguard the future of children.
The Minister said the Volta Region was no exception to challenges facing the girl and the boy child, saying these problems should be on the front burner for necessary actions to deal with them.
Mr Israel Akrobortu, the Regional Director of the Department of Children, was grateful to the Minister for recognising the work of the Department in the Region and that they would continue to champion the welfare of children.
He said his outfit undertook several activities in the year under review aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of children.
Some of these activities included training for social welfare and community development officers and community health and ophthalmic nurses at Battor and Hohoe with support from Visio International, an NGO from the Netherlands.
The Director said the Department also carried out sensitisation programmes and formed parents support groups in the beneficiaries communities to protect the rights of children.
There was training for children on child online safety to equip them with requisite knowledge and skills to properly conduct themselves online to avoid being exposed to danger.
Mr Prosper Afenyo, Chief Director at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), who is the Chairman of the RCPC, said inadequate funding was a major factor militating against effective child activities in the country.
He called for an Act of Parliament or a statutory fund to support child activities, saying, children were the future of the country so their activities must be prioritised to mould them into responsible adults for the betterment of the country.
Mr Afenyo said though the Assemblies had a mandate to set aside funds to support child activities, some of them were not complying and for those that were doing it, the money set aside was not encouraging.
Critical things should not be left to the discretion of people, they can abuse it, funds to support child activities should not be left to the discretionary powers of the assemblies, say one per cent of the Common Fund should be used for children’s activities so that we can monitor it, he said.
He said child survival, child protection and child development must be the concern of all and that the quality population the nation expected to see in the future must start from now.
Professor Ama Gains, the Country Liaison Officer, LOHNAC, said the group would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to champion the welfare of children so they would grow to become responsible adults to contribute to national development.
As the name means love is good, and if you extend it to those who needed it the most you are happier because you have done what you are requested to do, she said.
Dr Joan Akaba, Coordinator for CSOs, implementing the project at Agotime-Ziope District and Ho Municipal, underscored the need for measures to enhance holistic development of the child.
She said it was paramount to keep the convention on the right of the child in view, ensuring that “whatever we do is in the best interest of the child.”
Dr Akaba said it was time to join hands together and integrate efforts to build a better and more prosperous future for the children.
GNA