Wassa Akropong (W/R), June 10, GNA - Mr Stephen Baidoo Acheampong, District Chief Executive for Wassa Amenfi East, has said the development of the country must be closely linked with children by focussing attention on their development. He said children needed special care, attention and protection due to their physical and mental state that make them the largest vulnerable group in the society.

The DCE was addressing the maiden meeting of a new District Child Panel at Wassa Akropong. The seven-member district Child Panel has Mr Peter Oppong as Chairman and Mr Gideon Sagoe as Secretary. Other members include Mrs Alice Graft Adjei, Mary Osampah, James Harvoh, Nana Gyaakwa and Nana Gyetua Ampimu.

Mr Acheampong said Ghana could not afford to joke with issues concerning the development of its children. He said Ghana had become a shinning example to nations desirous of ensuring the welfare of their children after the country had ratified the Convention on the Right of Children which was later adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Mr Mohammed Wahab, the Deputy District Co-ordinating Director, said UNICEF would soon provide them with the required training to enable them to respond to all issues concerning children in the district. Mr Gideon Sagoe, Secretary to the Child Panel, said his outfit would soon come out with a Community Child Monitoring Committee to collate data on children in the district to curb child trafficking and child Labour in the area.