The Minister for Women and Children?s Affairs, Hon. Gladys Asmah has bemoaned the general apathy being exhibited towards children?s welfare in the country.

According to her, despite the notion that children demonstrate the exigency of society and hence promote sustainable development, parental neglect is still on the upsurge. The impact of this, she said, is a society where a lot of its young ones are denied access to education, leading to streetism and other negative factors.

Hon. Asmah made these remarks at the Official Opening of the 1st ever fair for kids dubbed ?Kids Fair 2004,? in Accra today, Friday, 10th September 2004. The 2 day fair, which is being organised by Will & Partners in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children?s Affairs (MOWAC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) is on the theme: ?Children, Our Hope For The Future ? Invest In Them.? The Sector Minister, whose speech was read on her behalf by Miss Abigail Yankah, called for the active involvement of civil society organisations and families in ensuring the welfare of children remains paramount.

On his part, the Acting Director General of the GES, Mr Michael Kenneth Nsowah, whose speech was read on his behalf by Mrs. Gladys Prempeh stressed that any investment made in a child?s education is in the right direction. She therefore called on parents to put on their priority list their children?s education and do away with some of the luxuries of life.