Mankessim (C/R), Feb 3, GNA - Plan Ghana, an international child-centred development organization, has expressed concern about the upsurge of cases of defilement and rape and appealed to the government, traditional rulers and the district assemblies to help to protect children.

Mr Jacob Turkson, Southern Sector Manager of Plan Ghana, pointed out that though Ghana was the first signatory to the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child, not much was being done to protect children from abuse. He said hardly did a week pass without reported cases of defilement and rape.

Mr Turkson expressed his concern when briefing post-graduate students of the Centre for Social Policies of the Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ghana.

The students were on a fact-finding visit to the offices of the organization at Mankessim. The Southern Sector of Plan Ghana comprises Asesewa, Bawjiase and Mankessim Program Areas. The Manager said children were confronted with many problems such as cultural practices and beliefs, which were inimical to their development, in a so called, 'free and conducive atmosphere,' but they had no avenues to voice their grievances.

He said not even the setting up of a separate Ministry for Children and Women's Affairs could address the problem. "Children are to be seen but not heard, is the popular saying of adults," he noted.

Mr Turkson called on the authorities to impress upon Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to form Child Panels in their jurisdictions to cater for the welfare of children. "Though the child panel is constitutionally requirement, many assemblies had not met them.

"Since a child who takes a parent to court for neglect will be treated with scorn, we must create avenues for them to seek redress for their problems," he stated.

Mr Turkson appealed to absentee chiefs to pay regular visits to their communities because their long absence from home thwarted the efforts of donor agencies at implementing development programmes. Mr Turkson noted that policy implementation was one of the major challenges facing the country as there was no link between policy makers and implementers.

He commended the students for taking interest in the organisation's activities. Mr Daniel Doe, the leader of the students, commended Plan Ghana for the good work it had been doing to assist children to develop their potentials.