Accra, Nov. 19, GNA - The Ghana Association of Social Workers (GASOW= ) on Friday welcomed the findings of the 11-member Committee of Enquiry int= o allegations of abuse and neglect at Osu Children's Home and the Boys Rema= nd and Probation Home.

It was appreciative of the fact that recommendations borne out of th= e activity called for the establishment of a Council on Social Work and Car= e, recruitment of staff and re-sourcing of the Social Welfare Department (SW= D). Mr John Klay, Vice President of GASOW, made the commendation when addressing a press conference in Accra to state the association's positio= n on the Committee of Enquiry's report and its recommendations to the Minis= try of Employment and Social Welfare. He said the association was committed to the pursuit of social justi= ce, enhancement of quality of life and the development of potentials of every=

individual, group and community in the society.

Mr Klay said SWD needed realistic funding to enable it pursue a holistic strategy to deal with issues that impacted negatively on professional social workers. He said the stigmatisation of the inmates by the continuous publicat= ion of their photographs in the media and some volunteers of the Home was unacceptable. Mr Klay said the use of force, threats, and coercion to obtain information for whatever purpose was globally offensive. He appealed to Ghanaians to critically examine the findings of the committee and its recommendations within the context of the problems associated with the provision of social welfare services to the vulnerabl= e in society. 1