Tema, June 14, GNA-Tema office of the Department of Social Welfare, has not been able to rid the Tema Metropolis of lunatics due to the lack of adequate resources.

Tema in recent times has become a haven for mentally retarded people as they are seen on almost every principal street of the metropolis and other public places.

Mr George De-Graft Assan, Tema Metropolitan Social Welfare Officer, said these in an interview with the Ghana News agency (GNA) in Tema on Saturday.

He said "ridding the metropolis of lunatics has become the biggest problem facing the Social Welfare Department" and cited that due the non-availability of means of transport, the department had difficulties in conveying lunatics to the psychiatric hospitals. He said management of the Accra and Pantang Psychiatric Hospitals demanded that the department paid medical and feeding bills of patients sent there even though it was financially handicapped. Mr Assan also said the department was finding it difficult to get rid of lunatics because information on their relatives was a requirement for the admission of lunatics at the psychiatric hospitals. He said the department did not have centers to cater for cured lunatics adding that the Save Them Young orphanage at Bethlehem near Ashiaman, was being used by the Department temporary for keeping missing children referred to it by the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit. Mr Assan said the orphanage had ten of such children aged between five and fourteen including a mentally retarded boy.

Mr Assan explained that the orphanage freely catered for such children but the department sent them to the Osu Children's Home when it was unable to locate their relatives over a period of time. Mr Adofo Dwamena, Administrator of the Orphanage, said it was catering for ten of such children adding that it was being supported by Reverend and Mrs Amoabeng, founders of the facility and philanthropists. He appealed to parents to check the background of those they would entrust their children to explaining that majority of missing children said they resided with guardians.

Mr Adofo Dwamena said children had the right to education, shelter, food, good health and advised parents to give birth to the number of children they could cater for.