NALAG to fight streetism
The women’s wing of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), in collaboration with the 216 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), is to roll out a campaign to address streetism in the country.
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Dubbed: “Streets without street children,” the exercise, which the women’s caucus said would be launched soon, will remove thousands of children who are living and working on the streets, especially in the cities and other big towns, from the street.
It will be the single biggest initiative by local authorities to address a canker that continues to destroy the future of many Ghanaian children.
This was made known at a press conference organised by the women’s wing of the National Executive Council (NEC) of NALAG to mark the 2017 National Children’s Day.
August 31 is celebrated as National Children’s Day to focus on the work of all players committed to the rights of children in the country.
Protecting children’s rights
The representative of the women’s wing on the NEC of NALAG, Mrs Evelyn Teiko Asenih, said the fine details of the exercise were being finalised awaiting official launch.
She noted with satisfaction that the Children’s Day was being marked at the time when there were significant efforts at the local and national levels to improve the protection and future of children.
She, however, said in spite of the numerous social interventions by the government to harness the potential of children to become responsible citizens in future, many children were still being denied their right to education.
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Mrs Asenih stated that NALAG was envisaging support from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as it worked to achieve the objectives of the exercise.
While emphasising that children were the future leaders of the country, she indicated that it was incumbent on national leaders and parents to protect the rights of children.
“I, therefore, call on every Ghanaian parent and guardian to use the National Children’s Day as a turning point to conscientiously commit to doing more to ensure the protection of the rights of the children of Ghana,” she said.
She also commended the Gender and Children Ministry for its efforts in addressing streetism.