The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh Ibrahim Quaye yesterday hinted that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would soon establish a Psychology Centre to offer counseling assistance to street children.

He was speaking at the Women's Refuge-Africa (WORA) and Horizon Girl-Child Development Awareness Programme in Accra. It is an NGO established to protect women and children against violence and poverty.

The Regional Minister regretted that even though women constitute a large percentage of the population, majority of them are unable to read and write.

He said most of the problems bedeviling women and children could be attributed to negative attitudes and some outmoded traditional beliefs that have held them down.

"These have been responsible for the high rate of ignorance and poverty among our womenfolk", he said. He suggested that the best way to empower women is to ensure that every girl-child receives formal education.

Sheikh Quaye pointed out that one major area of concern in all urban centers is the alarming rate of street children who are all within the school going age. "The problem is even compounded by the fact that most of these street children who rush to Accra with the dream of securing jobs end up as social misfits".

The Executive Director of WORA and Horizon Publications, Mrs. Jane Irina Adu contended that there is the need for the government to take every step to provide girls and women the same opportunities in education and employment if girls are to contribute meaningfully to national development.

She disclosed that her NGO will soon embark on a crusade to train and counsel street children.