Odumase (GAR), Jan. 18, GNA - Ms Theresa Ameley Tagoe, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Wednesday said the government's aim of protecting children's rights and development is irreversible. She said the government's position is expressed in the 1992 constitution and the international convention on the rights of children Ghana is a signatory.

Ms Tagoe said this in a speech read on her behalf by Mrs Elioenai Adu-Labi, a Director in the office of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, at a community sensitization program on child rights and responsibilities organized by the World of Hope International (WOHI), a non governmental organization (NGO), at Samam Odumasi in the Ga West District.

She said government appreciated the efforts of WOHI to protect children's rights and to prevent their neglect, exploitation and abuse, adding, "the Regional Coordinating Council will collaborate with you in your activities".

Ms Tagoe said, as the nation was getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence, government agencies and NGO'S would be strengthened and their efforts complimented for the socio-economic development of the nation".

She urged parents to honor their responsibilities towards children and to ensure their care, maintenance and up bringing in co-operation with the appropriate institutions, saying, "In all cases the interest of children is paramount".

"We need to protect our children from the numerous acts of disrespect shown them mainly by adults. The convention we signed shows our determination to see to it that children and adults are entitled to the same rights and liberties," she said.

Madam Monica Westin, President and Founder of WOHI, said the NGO would work closely with community leaders to identify ways to assist the educational development of young people especially children in the community.

She said, "We know that programs that do not consider the civil, political, economic and cultural factors have limited success with regard to education, HIV/AIDS prevention and health care". Madam Christine Rappoport, Board Member of WOHI in the United States of America, said despite the existence of the rights, children suffer from poverty, homelessness, abuse, neglect, preventable diseases; unequal access to education and justice that did not recognize their special needs.

She said these were problems in both industrialized and developing countries and called on civil societies and governments to work against such tendencies. 18 Jan 07