The International Day of the Family would be celebrated on May 15, a statement signed by Ms Marilyn Amponsah-Annan of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs in Accra on Friday said.

The day provides an opportunity to promote awareness on issues relating to families as basic units of society as well as to promote appropriate action.

The day has the potential of becoming a powerful mobilising factor on behalf of families in all countries, which avail themselves of this opportunity.

The day, which also offers every member of the society the chance to re-examine the role they could play in promoting a better understanding of functions and problems of families would be on the theme: "Community Support For Orphans And Other Children In Difficult Circumstances: The Role Of The Family".

The Statement said due to the worsening economic trends, individual members of the family had been torn apart and co-operation and concern for each other was gradually being pushed to the background.

"What previously offered support, was now close to the brink of extinction, thus there was almost nothing to fall on when members of families found themselves in problems", the statement said.

Government and civil society use the day as an occasion to initiate family oriented projects and discussion on family policies.

The day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 was to reflect the importance, which the international community attaches to families regarding their situation around the world.