The Greater Accra Regional Department of Children on Monday 11th January, 2024 held its fourth quarter regional child protection committee meeting aimed at putting efforts together to handle Child Protection Issues and gather information, data and reports from all stakeholders and well-meaning partners for the safety of children in the region.
The Regional Director of the department of children Mr. Alexander Sefa, in his opening remarks indicated that the issue of child protection must be observed critically adding that the meeting was to look at issues that promote the survival, growth, development and protection of children in the region.
He said the meeting would seek to obtain updates from stakeholders and also encourage members to put in their maximum effort in ensuring that the rights of children are protected. He accordingly, acknowledged UNICEF for sponsoring their actives and expressed his appreciation to them.
During presentations Mrs. Joyce Odame, from UNICEF spoke about gender equality of which she said, girls should be given equal opportunity for schooling, they should not be given to marriage at a younger age which can destroy their future and lives.
Giving statistics of child marriage in Ghana and in Africa, said about 650 million girls are given to marriage before their 18th birthday worldwide. Again 12 million girls become child brides each year and at childhood, about one (1) in five (5) young girls globally are married.
She went further to state that, child marriage is as a result of gender inequality, making girls specifically affected by the practice, six (6) times more than boys. The generational trends related to child marriage in Ghana were also tackled.
Mrs. Jemima Lomotey, Director of economic planning at the Regional Coordinating Council tasked members of the committee which includes Chiefs, Journalists, Social workers, NCCE among others to continue with their advocacy and sensitization programmes so that issues confronting child protection is reduced and subsequently eradicated in the region.
She charged members to report any suspicious behavior promptly adding that all stakeholders should effectively collaborate with others and not to work in isolation for efficient and excellent results. This she said would bring cooperation and harmonization for the betterment of all children within the Greater Accra Region.