Nadowli (UW), Jan. 28, GNA - Mr. Israel Akrobortu, Acting Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Children, has appealed to Municipal and District Assemblies in the Region to allocate 0.5 per cent of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for addressing children related issues in their areas of jurisdiction.

Mr. Akrobortu backed his appeal with Article 16 clause (1) of the children's Act: Act 560 of 1998, which states that 93A District Assembly shall protect the welfare and promote the rights of children within its area of authority and shall ensure that within the district, Governmental Agencies liaise with each other in matters concerning children".

The Acting Regional Director made the appeal during the President's end of year party for children held at Nadowli on Thursday.

He stated that children formed the majority of both today and tomorrow's population in the country and, therefore, placing them at the center of development planning would allow for sustainable socio-economic development for all.

Mr. Akrobortu called on parents to resolve to add more value to the care, love, respect and dignity that they had for their children.

"It is only when we create an environment of peace with prospects for children that we will pride ourselves of carving the needed route for the development of children and the nation as a whole", he stressed.

Alhaji Issahaku Salia, Upper West Regional Minister who addressed the children on behalf of President J. E. A. Mills, said the event was a demonstration of the love the government had for children.

He urged the children to be disciplined, patient and tolerant of one another in order to grow to become very responsible adults that would lead the development of the country to greater heights.

He also advised them to see education as their number one goal as it was the only legitimate key that could open the door of success for them in life.

Alhaji Salia noted that government had demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of children in many ways and would continue to do more as and when resources were available.

Mr. Abu K. Kansangbata, Nadowli District Chief Executive (DCE), noted that since the government assumed power it had increased the beneficiaries of the Ghana School Feeding Programme in the District from two to seven schools while plans were far advanced to include nine more schools in the programme this year.

He said through the support of the World Food Programme, 42 more schools were also benefiting from the programme.

He said a total of 4,938 school uniforms and 75,000 exercise books had already been distributed to pupils in the district under the government's free uniform and exercise books distribution policy.

The DCE lauded MTN Ghana Foundation for supporting the Nadowli Assembly Women Advocacy Group (NAWAG) with GH¢40,000 to support Girl Child Education in the District.

The ceremony which brought together 200 pupils from 10 basic schools within the Nadowli District, was on the theme: 93Planning and Budgeting for Children: Our Collective Responsibility".

The children were presented with books, food and other refreshments at the end of the ceremony.