Gomoa Manso (C/R), June 17, GNA - Nana Kwame Arhin, Mankrado of Gomo a Manso in the Central Region, has called on parents and guardians to use their scarce resources to promote their children's education rather than spend it on litigation concerning land and chieftaincy.

Addressing more than 700 school children, education directors and parents to mark this year's African Union Day of the African Child at Gom oa Manso on Wednesday, Nana Arhin asked parents to be mindful that the count ry's continued socio-economic development hinges on the children who are the window of hope for the future. "We must therefore strive as much as we can to offer them the right education which would make them capable of handling the affairs of the nation in future", he said.

He commended Plan Ghana, an NGO, for organizing the durbar and asked chiefs in the communities to cooperate with the organisation to enable it to make more meaningful contributions towards the improvement of the people' s well-being.

Mr Joseph Assan, Plan Ghana Programme Area Manager for Awutu Bawjias e, reiterated his organisation's determination to make its impact deeply fel t by the people as far as the promotion of children's welfare was concerned .. Mr Assan called for cooperation and closer collaboration among stakeholders in the area to ensure the attainment of the objectives set b y the organisation.

He charged community leaders to form child protection committees, networks and watchdogs among others, to check various forms of child abus e which was becoming prevalent in the area.

He was optimistic that the formation of such groups would help eliminate child-trafficking, and reduce the incidence of teenage pregnanc y and school drop-outs.

Mr Francis Obeng Ampadu, Gomoa East Director of Education, urged all

and sundry to join the fight against the worst forms of child abuse, addi ng that it was the responsibility of the elderly in the society to uphold th e fundamental rights of children and to cultivate good morals in them. Mr Ampadu advised the children to take their studies seriously and t o live healthy lifestyles that would enable them to grow both morally and spiritually. A representative of the children appealed to the government to have in mind the promotion of children's welfare when drawing the nation's budget

annually. Earlier, the children had embarked on a float through the principal streets of Gomoa Manso with placards some of which read "We have a right to better education", "Teach us our rights and responsibilities," and "Devic e means to curb child abuse of all forms in the Ghanaian society". The theme for this year's celebration was "Budgeting for Children's righ ts".