Sagnarigu department of social welfare and community development sensitizes communities on child protection

The Department of social welfare and community development of the  Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly has extended its child protection sensitization to the Nanton-Kpawumo community. The sensitization was basically on child protection and children on the move that seeks to protect them from violence exploitation and abuse.
The exercise anticipated communities to end the culture of silence and report all cases of child abuse and reporting to Department of Social Welfare, Community Child Protection Committee and Police Child Welfare unit for redress in the best interest of a child. Successive governments over the years attached importance to child protection, case management, the creation of Ministry of Women and Children as it demonstrated their commitment to ensure proper legislation and children act are put in place.
Speaking to Zaa news, a Field Officer at the Sagnarigu Assembly Lansah Kwame Paul underscored the important role women play in child protection and therefore stressed the need for dialogue and consultation to strongly advocate for protection of children on the move. He said the sensitization would enhance effective case management issues at households and community levels and advocate for all stakeholders in promoting referral systems to relevant authorities for redress.
He said the training of a child does not only depend on the biological parents but the responsibility of the community the child finds him or herself in.
According to him, the Sagnarigu Assembly saw the need to educate communities in the municipality on child protection in order to help raise responsible future leaders in the northern region and country at large and this is in accordance with the Children’s Act of Ghana 1998. The Children’s Act of Ghana 1998 rests on the welfare principles that recognize that the interest of the child shall be central in all matters concerning the child.
At the sensitization forum, community members identified key issues affecting the collaborative upbringing of children in the community. They mentioned broken homes, family disparities, and disrespect, among others as some of the hindrances. The community members after an educative and inspiring sensitization learnt that a collaborative upbringing of a child can prevent negative social vises such as robbery, teenage pregnancy, etc.
They said children irrespective of their gender should be allowed to perform diverse house chores. This they say will help children fit in society. The women however want their husbands to support them take care of their children.
By: Lilian D. Walter/zaanews/Ghana