Nkwanta, June 29, GNA - The chiefs, opinion leaders, parents and community caregivers in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region have been called upon to amend community norms that militate against the orderly development of children.

Mr Nicholas Ahadjie, Manager of the Nkwanta Area Development Programme (ADP) of the World Vision International (WVI), said this last Saturday to mark the celebration of the Day of the African Child in the Nkwanta District.

The celebration, which was under the theme "Protecting Children from Violence", was marked on different days at Brewaniase, Bonakye and Kechebi, all in the Nkwanta District.

Mr Ahadjie said a survey on the state of the child, conducted by the ADP, indicated that children in the Nkwanta District were normally not involved in social activities.

He said the survey also showed that there was widespread child labour, poverty, child abuse, limited registration of births and ignorance about child rights in the district. Mr Ahadjie said "at home and schools children face abuses such as beating, sexual abuse, inflicting cutlass and blade wounds, caning, slapping and whipping."

He suggested that teachers were "trained in methods of disciplining students that are not physically abusive," adding that his outfit had plans to form child rights clubs in schools in the district. The Day is in remembrance of children who were killed by the apartheid security forces of South Africa in Soweto 30 years ago during a demonstration.