BODY SET UP ON CHILDREN'S SURVIVAL IN HOHOE (PAGE 35)

THE Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region has set up a nine-member body to address issues relating to the survival of children,in view of the upsurge of child abuse cases in the area.
The nine-member committee will champion the “Learn without fear campaign” set in motion with the assistance of PLAN Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to gradually combat the phenomenon.
Members of the committee, under the Chairmanship of the Hohoe Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Bridget Dede Kumah, were inducted into office at a ceremony to commemorate this year’s African Union Day of the African Child at Hohoe.
Speaking at the durbar, the Volta Regional Officer of PLAN Ghana, Mr Eric Ayamba, said children in schools were subjected to all forms of sexual abuse which negatively affected their education.
The sexual harassment or abuse of girls, who are the most vulnerable, is being attacked globally under the theme: “Stop Child Sexual Abuse Now, Let Kids be Kids”.
Mr Ayamba expressed regret that most of the girls were compelled by poverty and lack of parental control to surrender to those forms of abuse leading to premature sex.
He, therefore, called on all allied forces in the municipality to join in the fight till the menace was completely eradicated from the area.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Herman Condoberry, in his inaugural address, said the day was set aside by the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the Africa Union (AU), in 1971, in memory of the children who lost their lives in Soweto, South Africa while protesting against the inequality in standards of their education, compared with their white peers.
He said the rights of children had been abused and relegated to the background or ignored in spite of several legislation passed to that effect.
“The incessant flogging as well as inadequate and improper care given to our children have negative effects on their health, mental capacity and physical development,” he said.
Mr Condoberry called on all and sundry to ensure that children, who were expected to develop into responsible adults, were given all the necessities for their development.
He promised that the municipal assembly would collaborate with the committee.