Cynthia Morrison
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP), Mrs Cynthia Morrison has called for an end to all forms of violence against children.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Chief Director of the ministry, Dr Hafisa Zackaria, at the launch of an advocacy campaign dubbed “Stop Violence Against Children”, the minister reiterated Ghana’s position on promoting and ensuring the protection of children at all levels.
The campaign which is a joint Programme of the MOGCSP and O Africa and funded by the European Union (EU) aims at reaching millions of Ghanaians with messages to prevent abuse and promote the well being of children.
It is expected to support the reduction of violence against children and adolescents, including harmful practices.
According to Mrs Morrison, despite Ghana’s achievement at ratifying the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which provides for the welfare of children and to protect them from all forms of abuse and exploitation, some children continue to suffer abuse in parts of the country, with persistent economic exploitation and physical harm.
“I am happy to report that after three decades of Ghana’s ratification of the UNCRC, significant strides have been made to address children’s rights in the area of health, education, social welfare, and justice. In spite of the successes chalked, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure a Ghana Fit-for-All-Children.” She said.
The minister called on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to end all forms of child abuse and also find suitable strategies for addressing children’s needs at the national, regional, local and household levels.
She expressed appreciation to the EU for providing support through O Africa for the “Ghana’s Children’ Study and the Stop Violence Against Children” Project and said she was of the hope that this support will be sustained for similar child rights interventions in the future
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of O Africa, Mr Platini Ashiagbor said the campaign had been designed to show the full horror of violence against children in the hope that it will raise the necessary awareness to create new culture of parenting.
He added that he was of the hope that the campaign will bring forth a new generation of Ghanaians whose self-confidence will come from within, because they have grown up in families that raised them up instead of beating them down.
Mr Ashiagbor also urged the public to join in celebrating the success of the campaign and commit to the fight against child abuse for a violence-free future for our children in Ghana
