The Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), a non-governmental organization, has said the rights and dignity of children living with disabilities should be respected, promoted and protected.

This would enable them to develop their full potentials and contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.

It said recent reports painted a gloomy picture of the deplorable and inadequate educational facilities, poor housing, lack of parental care and protection for children born with disabilities.

Madam Gifty Akosua Baka, the Country Director of the CCFC said this in Tamale at the weekend, to mark the African Union Day of the African Child, under the theme; “The Rights of Children with Disabilities; Duty to Protect, Respect, Promote and to Fulfill.”

The AU day of the African Child is celebrated on 16 June every year by the AU to commemorate the 1976 massacre of children in Soweto, South Africa.

Madam Baka, whose speech was read for her, said children in Ghana were facing enormous problems and a report by the President’s Committee on Review of Education in 2002, showed that of the more than 1.8 million people with disabilities in Ghana, 800,000 are children less than 15 years.

She said there were 21 special schools for children with disabilities out of which six are primary schools, 14 joint primary and junior secondary schools and a special secondary technical school.

She said the schools are over-crowded with inadequate facilities, learning materials and equipment and there was little or no academic progression for the graduates of the special schools.

Madam Baka appealed to the District Assemblies to ensure that allocation for disability support in the common fund is used to provide disability aid in public basic schools, libraries and other educational facilities to enable children with disability to enjoy equal rights to quality education and train more special teachers to help these children.

Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, the Northern Regional Minister said issues children needed to be highlighted and their concerns addressed and protected.**