Accra, Aug. 30, GNA - A three-year European Union (EU) funded project to enhance the operational capacity of Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of Ghana Police Service and the Judicial Service has taken off.

It involves equipping the institutions with necessary logistical resources to enhance their capacity to ensure effective operations and implementation of mechanisms, systems and laws to protect children and youth in justice institutions or under their care.

The project is being implemented by Plan Ghana, an international child-centred NGO, in partnership with Child Rights International and Ghana Coalition on Rights of the Child.

The EU agreed to finance the project following a study conducted on the five institutions last year, which revealed an increasing rate of violence against children.

To this end, management of Plan Ghana has presented items worth GHc40,000 to the beneficiary institutions to ensure success of the project.

The items included eight desktop computers with accessories, eight printers, eight photocopiers, eight digital cameras, 30 bed bunks, 122 mattresses, 122 bed nets, 122 blankets and assorted vocational training tools.

Mr. William Agyekum Acquah, Acting Country Director of Plan Ghana, presented the items to representatives of the institutions at the Senior Correctional Centre in Accra on Monday.

He reiterated the core areas of Plan Ghana's activities which was mainly promotion of the welfare of children especially in deprived communities.

Mr. Acquah said despite efforts, violence against children was still rife even at institutions that were supposed to offer protection to children.

He gave the assurance that Plan Ghana would continue to work to curb such incidences as well as provide necessary logistical support to care institutions to enhance their activities at protecting and promoting the welfare of children and the youth.

Mr. Acquah urged the beneficiary institutions to take good care of the items to prolong their lifespan, and expressed gratitude to the EU for financing the project.

Mr Alhassan Legibo, Deputy Director of Ghana Prisons Service, receiving the items on behalf of the beneficiary institutions said the gesture would help in their efforts to minimise crime especially against children in society.

Mr. Legibo thanked the management of Plan Ghana for the items and urged other well-meaning organisations to emulate the gesture.