Safeguarding the welfare of children and their freedom of expression in the country, Mrs Florence Ayisi Quartey, the Acting Director, Department of Children, at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), says, a collective approach is needed to project and protect the welfare of the youngsters.
She explained that, the Children’s Act, passed in 1998 binds leaders, parents, guardians and the country as a whole to protect children’s right, therefore it was well-timed Ghana developed and strengthened systems that would be more prevention focused towards the welfare of children.
“Every Child is entitled to express his or her fundamental human rights, to function well in society but it is incumbent on stakeholders to ensure these rights are enjoyed in a protected environment that holistically conform to the Child and Family Welfare Policy 2015,” she said.
Mrs Ayisi Quartey said this when she spoke on behalf of Hon Gifty Twum Ampofo, the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection at a Stakeholders Forum dubbed: “Access to Justice for Youth and Persons with Disability in Ghana” in Accra.
Organized by Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF), a youth focused Non-Governmental Organization committed to youth development in Ghana, the forum followed-up on initial consultations and sought to validate the key messages developed from the Child and Family Welfare Policy 2015 as well as the “PUZZLED” drama series.
She expressed happiness about YBF’s partnership with the Ministry towards the projection and promotion of the Child and Family Welfare Policy 2015 and its timeliness as the Ministry is planning towards public sensitization.
She further commended Open Society Initiative of West Africa (OSIWA) for the support to YBF.
Addressing stakeholders at the forum, Ms. Esther Yayra Attipoe, the Legal and Advocacy Manager of YBF said increasing awareness and deepening young person’s knowledge on the Children’s Act 560 and the Juvenile Justice Act 653, was appropriate.
She added that the inclusion of Persons with Disability (PWD’s) in sensitization engagements especially on the National Child and Family Welfare Policy 2015 was timely.
Ms. Attipoe who is also the Project Manager of “Access to Justice for Youth and Persons with Disability in Ghana” implemented by YBF with funding from OSIWA explained that engaging younger persons with disability, on their rights to participate in decision making processes at the local levels would create the platforms for their engagements with local government officials.
According to the Project Manager, in line with building on the Foundation’s previous children’s right intervention, “Securing the Future of Young People in Ghana through Improved Juvenile Justice Administration” is the second phase of the project rolled out. With the overall objective of securing young people in Ghana through improved Juvenile Justice as the inclusion PWD’s in decision making processes, “This new Project hopes to scale-up successes and lessons