Accra, Dec 18, GNA- The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the National Youth Council (NYC) have expressed their appreciation to non-governmental bodies and private sector establishments for helping Ghanaian children to face the challenges and obstacles which militate against their survival, development, growth and progress.

This was contained in a speech read for Mr Rashid Bawa, Minister of State at the Ministry at the launch of a one billion-cedis Endowment Fund by the Village of Hope Orphanage to support its operations at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Tuesday night.

Mr Bawa said the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Ghana has just ratified, and the Ghana Children's Act provide for the protection of the rights of children at all levels of development. These, he said, included the right to smooth and uninterrupted education, medical and health care and maintenance, proper food and nutrition, clothing, safer shelter, liberty, protection against physical injuries, emotional care and security and recreation.

However, he said, the denial of these rights was an affront to their growth, survival and development.

He, therefore, commended the Board of Directors and Management of the Village of Hope for their inspiring vision in launching an endowment fund to form a capital base for the running of the Village. The Village, run by the Churches of Christ in Ghana from two campuses at Ayawaso, near Pokuase in the Ga District in the Greater Accra Region, and Fetteh in the Gomoa District of the Central Region, cares for orphans, abandoned children and destitute children from all 10 regions of Ghana.

Mr Bawa commended the board of Directors and Management of the Village for their inspiring vision in launching an endowment fund to form a capital base for the running of the Village.

"It is very heart-warming that the organisers of this endowment fund are doing a service which will grow in magnitude and strength to support the welfare of the vulnerable and meet the needs of deprived children."

He told the guests that if the seed being nurtured was to yield any positive fruit, it would depend and rest on them. "If the sick are to be healed, it is our hands that will heal them; if the lonely and the frightened are to be comforted, it is our embrace that will comfort them," he stated.

Mr Bawa stressed the importance of the youth in national development but conceded that children and the youth are besieged by great challenges as their living conditions are characterised by deprivations and lack of opportunities for personal development and progress.

The youth, he said, are confronted by daunting problems in their education and training, employment, housing, teenage pregnancy and health challenges such as HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. Mr Bawa therefore appealed to other benevolent organisations and groups to start similar initiatives for the benefit of other deprived and needy children.

He also advised the youth to desist from all forms of indiscipline and immoral lifestyles and rather strive to develop their God-given talents to achieve grater heights.

Patrons of the night, including churches, corporate entities, organisations and individuals donated more than 100 million cedis to the fund.