Mamponteng (Ash), Feb.21, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor's special jubilee Party for children was on Wednesday held at Mamponteng in the Kwabre district of Ashanti.

It was organised by the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) under the auspices of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Kwabre District Assembly. A speech read on behalf of Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister by his Deputy, Mr. Ossei Assibey Antwi to the over 500 school children, affirmed government's commitment to enhance the welfare of the nation especially children.

He said the commitment was manifested in government's development plan dubbed, "Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II" which focused on good governance, Human Resource Development and Private Sector Development which highlights on issues of children, gender mainstreaming, vulnerability and exclusion.

The Regional Minister said the formative years of every young person determines the development of that person ands that it was in recognition of this that the Early Child Care and Development policy was vigorously being implemented.

He warned that trafficking of people especially children was on the increase in the country and that the information available indicates that Ghana serves as a supplier, receiver and transit point. Mr. Owusu-Ansah stressed that steps were being taken to combat the phenomenon at all levels.

Mr. Andy Boye-Agyeman, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinator of the GNCC called on the children to be submissive and respectful to their teachers and their parents.

He said it was through such behaviours that the teachers and their parents would assist them in their preparation for future life. Mr Boye-Agyekum urged the teachers to be patient when dealing with the children and exhibit good characters worthy of emulation. Alhaji Akwasi Yeboah, Kwabre District Chief Executive (DCE) noted that parental control was slackening very fast and most parents had little or no control over their children.

He therefore called on parents, teachers, traditional authorities, religious organisations and the law enforcement agencies to assist government in its crusade of bringing back wayward children to the classroom. The DCE told the children to make good use of the opportunities created for them by the government and learn very hard to become useful citizens. Reverend Samuel Affainie Amankwa, the District Director of Education said as Ghana's 50 anniversary was approaching, the children should take advantage of the period and ponder over what they can do for nation. 21 Feb 07