Hohoe, Feb 7, GNA- The Hohoe Directorate of the Department of Social Welfare dealt with a total of 93 family cases last year, against the 105 cases it handled in 2005, showing a decline of 25 percent. Mr Godwin Mawuena, the District Director who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview said the cases covered community care, justice administration, child rights and protection.

He said 50 out of the 93 cases received were maintenance related, 16 on family welfare, 11 paternity and 16 custody cases.

He said 83 out of cases have been disposed off successfully with the remaining eight cases either been referred or pending.

Mr Mawuena said under community care, a total of 11 persons with disabilities were registered within the year under review, in addition to six physically challenged persons benefiting from the disbursement of 35 million cedis loan facility from the Hohoe district assembly. He however announced that the loan facility had collapsed for low recovery rates.

Mr Mawuena said 63 couples were counseled on family planning and other reproductive health issues with the registration of four orphanages and five non-governmental organizations within the period under review. He said two of the 88 cases, which came to the attention of the Department, have been disposed off in 2006 against 64 cases it recorded in 2005.

At the Juvenile court, Mr Mawuena said five criminal cases and three exposure to physical danger cases were dealt with. He said financial constraints; logistical inadequacies impeded the implementation of their planned corporate activities.