Takoradi Feb.26, GNA-Mr. John Hackman, Western Regional Director, Department of Women and Children's Affairs, on Thursday said it has come to the notice of the department that some orphanages are arranging illegal adoption of children or offering children for sale. He warned that offenders would be prosecuted as a monitoring team to oversee the affairs of all orphanages in the country was in the offing to help keep track of activities of orphanages.

He was speaking at the commissioning of a 180 million Ghana Cedi Andreas Manna Foundation Project for street, needy and disadvantaged children at West Anaji near Takoradi.

The project which has a shelter for abused children, home for the disadvantage and the vulnerable, centre for vocational and employable skills and counselling of the youth, kitchen, staff quarters, dinning hall and girls' dormitory was financed by the Andreas Manna Foundation, Holland. He said it is only the Department of Social Welfare and the Courts that have the mandate to legally arrange adoption in the country.

He warned that those who are engaged in human trafficking especially , of women, girls and children would pay for their anti-social deeds adding, "They will be dealt with by the law enforcement agencies when caught" Mr. Hackman said the project has come at the right time because the Region does not have adequate shelter for abused children and will complement the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

He said despite the laudable efforts of the Government, irresponsible parenting, child abuse, sexual abuse, child prostitution, streetism, child labour and domestic violence were ruining the lives of children. Mr. Hackman expressed concern about the deviant behaviour of some children who were engaged in Sakawa (internet fraud), drug abuse, alcoholism, hooliganism and examination malpractices, watching pornograph= ic materials, playing truancy and are largely undisciplined.

Mr. Samuel Ntumy, the Director of the Project, said the mission of the project was to improve the quality of life of the disadvantaged children, advance their rights and encourage them to participate in processes that would enhance their equality, self reliance and long-term sustainable development.

He said the foundation started supporting children to pursue various courses and basic education on day care basis in 2001 and that eight children have completed their courses and most of them are self employed. Mr. Ntumy said the foundation was supporting about 70 children to attend primary, Junior and Senior Secondary Schools and the Opportunity Industrialization Centre (OIC). He said most of the financial assistance for the foundation came from their sister organisation, Andreas Foundation, Holland.

According to Mr Ntumy, the foundation has started a water sachet project and had acquired 10 plots of land at Agona Nkwanta for a bigger water project and vegatable farming to generate income for its operations and to provide jobs for children roaming the streets.