Accra (Greater Accra) 06 July 2002- President John Agyekum Kufuor has been urged to create a Ministry for Social Welfare to tackle the country's numerous social problems including the plight of orphans. "Social welfare issues have been relegated to the background. The child is abused everywhere. The President has to make a whole ministry for these issues."

Mr Kwekecher Ackah, NDC-Aowin Suaman, was contributing to a statement on orphanages presented by Mrs Theresa Joyce Baffoe, NDC-New Edubiase, on Friday. The member asked that the Ghana Trust Fund be restructured to make it more purposeful in the life of the disadvantaged in society. "When this is done, individuals, who are fond of giving alms to beggars on our streets could contribute to the fund."

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, NDC-Fanteakwa, warned that if the country did not create social welfare structures, the consequences of the HIV/AIDS pandemic would overwhelm the society. "We should be thinking about making such structures integral parts of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. We must prepare well because more orphans and dependents are coming on board."

Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah,NPP-Effia Kwesimintim, called for a revisit to the Ghanaian traditional family values system where children were nurtured in the family. "Society should rather help families to remain intact and nurture children rather than taking them into institutions. They become stigmatised."

He said where it was impossible to the family to take care of its own, workers of such orphanages should be well screened since all sorts of characters could hide there and abuse the orphans. "I know from research that orphans, who are abused have no one to report to. Even where the hierarchy exits they are very vulnerable."