The Ashanti regional office of the Department of Children under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has stepped up efforts to educate street children on the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Stephen Ofosu, Ashanti Regional Director told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi that, the initiative followed a random sampling conducted on some children who were street hawkers in some major market centres in the Kumasi metropolis.

He said the research, which was conducted in the Asafo, Kejetia, Adum Pampaso and Bantama markets, revealed lack of knowledge of the disease by many of the children, while others perceived it as a hoax.

It was as a result of this that his outfit with support from the World Bank, took up the challenge to educate the children on the symptoms, prevention and the various protocols and restrictive measures put in place by the government to contain the further spread of the virus.

Mr Ofosu, who was highlighting on some of the activities the Department was doing to mark this year’s AU Day of the African Child, which fell on June 16, said children were more vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was the need for intensified education for them to understand and protect themselves.

“Access to Child-friendly Justice in Ghana” was the theme chosen for this year’s celebration.

The Department, he said, also visited Digyawu and Dweneho communities in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality to educate and sensitize the people on the pandemic.

Mr Ofosu indicated some community members still doubted the existence of the virus and were therefore not adhering to the preventive protocols as they should.

He stressed the need for intensive public education of the virus, especially in rural communities to help combat the spread.