Department of Children honours partners

Published in the Daily Graphic on 25/03/2010, pg 11

Story: Matilda Attram
Ghana was the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which enjoins all member states to provide a minimum standard of rights to children within their jurisdiction.
The country followed up with the enactment of the Children’s Act (Act 560) in 1998 to domesticate the convention in national legislative process to create a legal framework for the implementation of the CRC.
To recognise the contribution of individuals and organisations that have helped in the development of the Ghanaian child and to motivate other organisations and stakeholders to support the development and welfare of children in the country, the Department of Children of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) has honoured a number of personalities and organisations who have contributed to the development and well-being of the Ghanaian Child.
Personalities appreciated included Rev. Father Andrew Campbell, Parish Priest of the Christ the King Church, Accra; the late Justice Kingsley Acquah, a former Chief Justice; Dr Issabella Sagoe-Moses, National Co-ordinator for Child Health; Mrs Estelle Matilda Appiah, Drafter, Attorney General’s Department; Professor Anamoah Mensah, an educationist; Mr Nii Osa Mills, a legal practitioner; Mrs Salomey Francois, Director of the New Horizon Special School; Deputy Superintend of Police (DSP) Patience Ashorkor Quaye, Head of Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service; Mrs Ruth Ofosua Addison, a Director at the Department of Children; Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, Resident Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); ‘Walter Dee’, a musician, and Kingsley Obeng Kyere, a journalist and manager of Curious Minds (a youth-centred programme).
Organisations appreciated included the Church of Pentecost Ghana, the Catholic Church of Ghana, Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service (GHS), Junior Graphic of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Unique FM, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Krobo Odumasi Queens Association, as well as some organisations in the regions that support child-development programmes.
The event, dubbed “Partners Appreciation Day”, was organised in Accra to climax the 20th anniversary celebration of Ghana’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which was the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights including civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of children.
The 20th anniversary of the country’s ratification of the CRC fell on November 20 last year. It was on the theme, “Enhancing the Destiny of Children”.
In her welcoming address, the acting Director of the Department of Children, Ms Mariama Yayah, stated that the protection of the human rights of the child and other vulnerable groups in society had been of utmost importance to the government, adding that, “This is clearly manifested in the 1992 Constitution, the Children’s Act of 1998 (Act 560), the Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) Policy 2004, the Domestic Violence Act, 2007, among others.”
She said the government, through the adoption of a multi-sectoral approach, had made efforts to ensure the survival, development, protection and participation of children for a better development of the nation.
She observed that the theme chosen for the celebration reinforced the government’s commitment to ensure the enjoyment of children’s rights as enshrined in the UNCRC.
She said there was the need for Ghanaians to be guided by the general principles of non-discrimination, best interest of the child, right to life, survival and development and respect for the views of the child to enhance the welfare of children in the country, adding that “These principles form the basis for our assessment of achievements made as a country in promoting the welfare of children.”
The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, described the programme as significant and said “in compliance with the domestication of the CRC, Ghana has continued to vigorously pursue institutional reforms to improve administration of issues affecting children which impeded the successful implementation of the children’s right in the country”.
She called on all, especially parents, to support the welfare of children for a better future, indicating that “our children are our future and, as a nation, we need to support them to develop their full potential for a bright future”.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Ghana, Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, also advised all to contribute to build a better future for children.
The event was supported by UNICEF and those honoured were under various categories namely child welfare, child protection, child health, children with special needs, children’s education, child participation and other meritorious awards.