Sekondi, July 19, GNA- Mr John Hackman, Senior Coordinator of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) in-charge of the Western Region, has called on parents to care for their children in order to protect them from abuse.

He made the call when speaking at a debate on the Family organised by the GNCC to mark this year's African Union (AU) Day of the Child. The theme for the debate was "Is the Ghanaian Child Protected by the Family System" and the debate was between Ahantaman Secondary School and Shama Secondary School.

Mr Hackman said children who were not given family care and protection ended up in the streets and deprived of education. He announced that the GNCC would soon embark on community sensitisation programme on issues affecting the welfare of children. Mr Hackman said the Commission would collaborate with the Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service (GHS), National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service in carrying out the programme.

He said the aim of the debate was to elicit the views of students on the role the family in nurturing the child.

Mr Hackman said it was also to assess the role of the family in the provision of basic necessities of life in order to protect the child from abuse and neglect.

Ahantaman Secondary School, which spoke for the motion, won the debate and was presented with a set of books and 400,000 cedis donated by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and GNCC.

Shama Secondary School was also presented with a set of books and 200,000 cedis cash.