Accra, June 27, GNA - The African Movement for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (AMPCAN), an NGO on Monday donated 17,700 assorted books to 184 schools in the country. AMPCAN, is a direct partner of Children International (CI) and a beneficiary of the Gift-In-Kind Books Donation Programme in partnership wit= h the Ministry of Education. The books worth 150,000 dollars were donated to basic, junior and senior high schools, public community libraries and tertiary institutions throughout the country to promote and improve reading culture among students.

The beneficiary schools included, Trawa Manya D/A Primary, Sekesua Djamang D/A Primary, Sawa Yiti Presbyterian Primary, Akokoma Sisi D/A Junio= r High School Nsawadze Methodist Kindergarten, Primary, D/A Junior High School, Asesewa Presbyterian Junior High, Gyinankoma Catholic Primary and Junior High Schools. The others were St Thomas Aquinas Senior High School, O'Reilly Senio= r High School and Odorgonno Senior High School. Mr George Baiden, Chief Executive Officer of AMPCAN donating the books during the launch of the programme said it was to improve the livelihood of children in Ghana and enhance opportunities for their full potential in an environment where their rights were not only upheld but also respected. He said actualisation of the exercise had resulted in awareness creation initiatives on child abuse and child protections issues in Ghana and sought to collaborate and network with organisations having ideals similar to those of AMPCAN. Mr Baiden said AMPCAN was working with key stakeholders such as DOVVSU= , Department of Children of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Telephone Operators to establish the Ghana Child Helpline with funding support from the Dutch Government.

He noted that AMPCAN had the mandate to facilitate access to treatment and training to create safer environment for the optimal growth of the chil= d and also to be part of a protection and referral system with all members of the Ghana Child Abuse Network (CAN).

Mr Baiden cautioned heads of beneficiary schools and public community libraries to maintain the books well for its purpose to be achieved and warned that sanctions and withdrawal would be applied to schools who failed to adhere to the maintenance and proper upkeep of the books. Mr George Cobbinah Yorke, Advocacy and Governance Advisor of Plan Ghan= a said the book donation exercise was intended to help children to realise their full potentials. Dr Akuamuah Boateng, Board Member of AMPCAN, said AMPCAN was not only interested in the prevention of child abuse but also supporting school children with books.