‘Violence is a major obstacle to child development’

Reverend Father Ernest Obeng of Saint Paul’s Anglican Parish of Akuapem–Mampong, in the Akuapem North municipality of Estern region has attributed low esteem, lack of confidence and lack of sense of responsibility among many children in Ghana to violence.

According to the Akuapem-Mampong Parish Priest, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Addo Nkwanta Anglican Child and Youth Development Center, violence has become the major obstacle to child development in the country.

To him, was an urgent need for all stakeholders to effectively collaborate to combat the canker, adding that the future of the country is at stake due to the higher number of child abuses.

He disclosed in an interview with The Chronicle at Adawso market during a campaign against child abuse organized by the Child and Youth Development Center under Compassion Ghana International in collaboration with the Social Welfare and Community Development for the Akuapem North Municipality.

The child protection campaign was on the theme “Say No to Child Abuse”. The Rev. Father said the aim of his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) is in line with the fulfilment of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for violence against children by the United Nations.

The adoption of the global sustainable development agenda by the United Nations in 2015 was focused on ending poverty, ensuring healthy lives, increasing access to quality education, achieving gender equality, promoting child participation and eliminating all forms of violence among children.

He continued that the dignity of children and the right to live free from violence and fear is recognised as a distinct priority on the international development agenda, hence the advocacy against the higher number of violence and abuse against children, parents and caregivers.

The Senior Social Development Officer for the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly, Madam Babarah Agyeiwaa Amoah, on her part bemoaned the high number of teenage pregnancies and violence against children in the area.

She opined that the efforts and commitments of the government towards the attainment of SDG 17 would be a mirage if there were no signs of deliberate effort to fight violence against children menace.

The senior social development officer praised the leadership of the NGO for the awareness and purposeful education of guardians on good parenting for eliminating all forms of violence among children in the municipality.

The Project Director for Saint Augustine Child and Youth Development Center under Compassion Ghana International, Nana Yaw Ampofo Ayew, described his outfit as a strategic partner and agent for change.

According to Nana Yaw Ampofo, child protection was as critical as protecting children, hence the quest of Saint Augustine Child and Youth Development Center to champion this fight.

He reaffirmed the Saint Augustine Child and Youth Development Center under Compassion Ghana International’s commitment to releasing children from poverty in the Akuapem North municipality and beyond.

Nana Yaw Ampofo indicated that the Saint Augustine Child and Youth Development Center has intervened in the lives of many children through a holistic development approach to ensure that children grow up to become not only responsible Christian adults, but citizens.

He mentioned some of the interventions such as empowering and equipping parents to establish businesses to become financially stable, and be physically and mentally responsible for the proper upbringing of their children.

He urged individuals, institutions, and donors to come to their aid to help serve the needy people in the country as well as parents.

 

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