By Priscilla Oye Ofori/ Emelia Nkrumah
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA— Mrs Lariba Zueweira Abudu, Minister Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, has reiterated the need for all stakeholders to intensify efforts to curtail child streetism.
She noted that globally, street children were a hidden vulnerable population and a public health issue, however, efforts to research and sensitise people were inadequate to curb the menace.
Mrs Abudu said this at a durbar organised for street children by the Gender Ministry through the Department of Children in Accra and in partnership with ‘Enhancing Youth Education and Health (EYEH) Soup Kitchen’, a Non-governmental Organisation, as part of activities to mark the National Children’s Day.
The National Children’s Day was instituted on 31 August, 1979 by the Government as a key initiative to seek the general welfare and development of children in the country and to promote the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
It is celebrated annually to recognise the essence of the establishment of Government’s machinery for addressing issues of children.
This year’s celebration is on the theme: ‘‘The Role of the Community in Eliminating Harmful Practices.”
Mrs Abudu said among other issues, street children were vulnerable to physical injury, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), reproductive health disorders, mental health problems and psychological trauma as a result of living in the street.
Ghanaian researchers, the Minister Designate said had estimated that more than 61,000 persons below the age of 18 were living on the streets in the Greater Accra region.
She noted that Government constituted an lnter-Ministerial Committee comprising Ministers of National Security, Interior, Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Justice and Attorney General’s Department, and Information, chaired by the Gender Ministry to address issues of streetism.
Mrs Abudu stated that in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service and other relevant stakeholders, the Embassy of Niger in Ghana, repatriated 1320 of its citizens to their home country.
The Minister Designate said the Children’s Act 560 of 1998 stated that every child of school-age should attend and remain in school, particularly during school days and times.
‘‘The law also emphasised that no child needs to be exploited irrespective of their nationality, sex, race and colour. The law of the country requires that for all children. It is for this reason that we are interacting with you today to be aware of your rights,’’ she said.
Dr Afisah Zakariah, The Chief Director, Gender Ministry, stated that the prevalence of harmful cultural and social practices continued to violate the rights of children in the country.
She said children suffered immediate physical and psychological consequences, which adversely affected their dignity, physical, psychological, and moral integrity and development as a result of harmful practices against them.
The Chief Director urged all stakeholders to work together to get street children reunited with their families and homes to enjoy all benefits of protection due them.
Mrs Elizabeth Quashie-Idun, Director, EYEH Soup Kitchen, said through the outfit, some of the young people opted to leave the street and moved to the Social Welfare shelter at Madina or returned home.
She said before the Covid-19, the Organisation enrolled 10 older youths in the National Community Development and Technical Institute at Madina where they were pursuing courses in Electrical and Auto-mechanics.
The Director appealed to the Ministry, through the Department of Social Welfare, to assist them in identifying an appropriate shelter to accommodate the children who were enrolled in schools, but unable to return to their families.
Mrs Quashie- Idun commended the Gender Ministry for its contributions and support to the Organisation.
GNA