Brepaw Kpeti (E/R), June 17, GNA - The Global Child Agency, Plan International, has re-echoed the need for children to be fully involved in the decision making process of their families and communities as a way of allowing them participate in the development of their communities. The acting Asesewa Area Programme Manager of Plan, Mr. Joseph Assan, noted that children's involvement, together with their community leaders in issues that concern them, is both relevant for the protection of their rights and crucial for the proper utilization of resources for development.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the African Union Day of the African Child at Brepaw Kpeti in the Manya Krobo District of Eastern Region on Friday, Mr Assan pleaded with parents and communities to stop "underrating the intellect of children" when major decisions concerning them are being taken. Such approach, he emphasized, had been found to be counter-productive and constituted a significant impediment in utilizing resources for the common good of the community.

Some five basic schools in the Asesewa circuit congregated at the Brepaw Kpeti Basic Schools complex to observe the Day, which was instituted in 1976, as an outrage against the grisly killing of innocent black South African school children protesting the compulsory use of the Afrikaan language orchestrated by the then apartheid regime. It is now a Day celebrated annually on the continent to create awareness on children issues and evaluate the progress being made to improve the welfare of children.

To highlight that so much was yet to be achieved on that front, the children began the Day with a parade through the ceremonial streets of Asesewa bearing placards that condemned society for perils and dangers it still subjects its minors to. Through drama and a mock parliamentary sitting, the children enacted their fears and expectations, noting poignantly the many instances of communal complicity in child molestation, the fall-outs from adulterous relationships to moments of adult's unbridled lust for which children remained the victims.

Miss Jemima Tetteh, a Primary Four pupil, in a contribution, challenged society to be true to its claims that it regards children as precious by uniting against child molesters and seek concerted ways of discouraging further abuse of their rights. Miss Tetteh highlighted the deprivations still posed to the rural child such as the unavailability of electricity for studies and, in some cases, the lack of lamps and appealed for support for such category of children to ensure that they were not left behind in their academic pursuits.

In a speech read for him, Mr Anthony Dontoh, Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of the Ghana National Commission on Children, said it was the intention of the Women and Children's Ministry to establish Children Centres all over the country to provide an informal learning environment and recreational facilities for children. Mr. Dontoh conceded that some positive strides had been made towards creating a safer and peaceful environment for children but nonetheless demanded more protection for children against HIV/AIDS especially through sexual molestations.

The Co-ordinator also demanded a collective response from the society in tackling the issue of drug use among the youth because of its "devastating" impact on the individual and the society. The Headmaster of Asesewa Day Secondary School, Mr Samuel Gyebi Yeboah, commended Plan International for its huge investments in the educational and health sectors in many parts of the country to enhance the livestyle of children. He advised the people to complement this effort by sending their children to school and supporting the organization in ways that could further expand the opportunities available to the children.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Manager of the Department of Births and Deaths, Mr Michael Aboagye, educated the people on the significance of registering their births as it gives the child access to educational and other facilities in life.