Nungua, May 8, GNA - The public has been entreated to support the upbringing of children living in orphanages, instead of discriminating against them.

Mr Cephas Mensah Afotey, Founder of the New Life Orphanage International, who made the call, pointed out that, discriminating and stigmatizing such children only worsened their plight and sorrows. He made the call on Saturday, when members of the Banner of Grace Ministry in Tema Community 12, presented some items worth GH¢4,500 to the Orphanage. The items included, gallons of cooking oil, rice, baby diapers, fruits, gari, maize, washing soap, loaves of bread, and toiletries, among others. Mr Afotey said it was in the public interest that such children were being taken care of by Orphanages, because without that care, the orphans could turn out as social miscreants.

He advised teachers and head teachers to give the needed educational support to the children, instead of sacking them for non payment of school fees.

He recounted that due to such embarrassing harassments of the children by school authorities, his outfit found it appropriate to set up a school for its inmates.

Mr Afotey said currently the school has a creche, nursery, primary and a Junior High School, which caters for the 42 inmates, consisting of 19 boys and 23 girls.

He thanked the Church for the gesture, and called on other philanthropic organizations and individuals to help complete the school structure, as well as provide a bus and water tank for the Orphanage. Rev Franklin Nana Agyeman, Head Pastor of the Banner of Grace Ministry commended the founder and his wife for taking care of the children as though they were theirs.

Rev Agyeman said the donation was an annual programme embarked on by the Church, as part of its religious and social responsibility. He said every year they donate similar items to a selected Orphanage to help solve some of the problems faced by the caretakers.

He advised parents to be responsible, by taking good care of their children and guiding them against premarital sex and teenage pregnancy.