The Tema Metropolitan Office of the Social Welfare Department has called on operators of Daycare Centres in the metropolis, to engage the services of more care givers to augment the current 581 teachers in the system.

Mr George De-Graft Assan, Tema Metropolitan Social Welfare Director, who made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said currently the 581 daycare teachers within the Metropolis, who are made up of 332 certified and 249 uncertified teachers, take care of 8,677 children.

Mr Assan stated that the need for more teachers to be engaged by the operators could not be overemphasized, due to the large number of children in the centres compared to the number of teachers.

He indicated that a total of 188 registered and non-registered daycare centres were operating in the Metropolis, adding that, out of that total, 134 were registered, while 54 were yet to register with the Department.

The Director explained that those duly registered, had over 50 children under their care, and had also met all the requirements, including the provision of proper facilities, ventilation and good sanitation.

He said daycare centres with less than 50 children were being monitored and supervised by the Social Welfare Officers, until they met the requirements, after which they would be registered.

He advised unregistered centres operating in the Metropolis to adhere to the requirements, and register with the Department, reminding them that his outfit has the mandate to close down any centre that operates without the needed facilities.

On the cases the Department handled in 2011, Mr Assan stated that, his outfit successfully settled 42 custody and 30 paternity cases.

The Department also handled 232 cases involving the maintenance of children, while 159 family reconciliation cases were also settled, and 70 general advices given.

He disclosed that 47 of the cases the Department received were referred to the Family Tribunal Court due to misunderstanding or non-satisfaction on the part of one of the spouses.**