Everyday millions of innocent children are suffering and calling for help, they are drowning in various social issues that affect their growth and interest. Talk of the child labour, discrimination, child trafficking, neglect and abuse of various forms.
Not mention issues of sanitation and the social canter poverty, and one would realize, the child is the main focus of all these problems.
The thought that lingers many concerned minds is what is being done to remedy this cause.
Then the reality pokes out that lots of policies and frameworks have been instituted and the interesting aspect is that Ghana is part of the League of Nations that embrace such policies.
Ghanaians keep boasting of they being the first to ratify the UNCRC, other policies include the children’s act 560, The Millennium Development Goals, AU charter on the rights of the child and our own 1992 constitution try to outline various measures to help curb the this situation, but what are policies without implementation?
It is high time the cries of children are heard, it is high time the issues that affect the child’s growth and development are given a priority concern. We need to take cognizance of the fact that children are assets and not a liability, they are the joy of Ghanaian marriages, they never begged to be born hence the need for that care.
Enough of them being tokenized and used for decoration at various functions. The child being so vulnerable is taught to be respectful and obedient in our Ghanaian society hence forgets he has some rights. Then again we ask, does he even know what his rights are, is he aware of the various policies in place for his wellbeing, this alone locates him to that corner where anyone anywhere trample on them and see them as children who have no idea of life.
It is very sad to know that the future leaders of this country are going through lots of inhuman and abusive treatment, what leaders we expect to gain when that boy in Moore is subjected to constant torture and abuse by the very elders he believes and lives with. Do we seek leaders who would harbor wickedness and vengeance?
Certainly this is not the dream we have for our future leaders, this is not the vision we envisage for our motherland Ghana .What needs to be done is a matter of individuality that sterns from the heart and mind coupled with the effort of our hard work and determination, it certainly is a collective responsibility not that kind of responsibility that circulates only in the high hierarchies of our society and not the responsibility that seeks to promote selfish interest of that man up there where he constantly keeps getting rich and our poor children live at the mercy of nature. We are looking at the responsibility where everyone has role to play despite your status and position in society.
The politicians, we expect to see to it that resources are allocated for the growth and welfare of children is well allocated to effect nothing but the said reason.
The education system is structured to teach children their rights and responsibilities coupled with the available policies will better equip our children to demand what is rightly theirs.
Establishing the disguised watchdogs unit to apprehend and bring to law anyone who abuses children would serve as a deterrent and put fear into anyone who is in such venture or intend to move into such venture.
The media is not left as their role is very important to effect this course, a constant preach of the message about children would go a long way to educate and inform the public as to causes of these acts, the effects and measures put in place to apprehend and deter others, this sensitization should be decoded into various languages so as to reach out to those that do not have fair knowledge of the usual English language.
Non- governmental organizations are also called in their own way to contribute o ensuring the world fit for all children.
As an individual, it is our duty to go out there and make known to others issues of child development, this we can attain through various ways, by informing your friend and next door or house neighbor about issues related to children. Writing articles and coming out with short movies are worthy courses we can take to ensure children are protected in our country.
It is very evident the constant woes and suffering of children, the future leaders of our country, one is very pleased to know the numerous policies put in place to remedy these issues, but are these policies meant to be on the papers, are they not to be known by the public, and what is the pride and happiness in confidently claiming membership of the policies we do not feel their existence in our society. Enough of the long talk, it is time to walk the talk to make the world a better place for growth and development of children.
Written By;
Ebenezer Nii Martey
(emartey96@gmail.com )
Edited by;
Kwarkor Quartey
(qkwarkor@yahoo.com)
