GLOMEF fights child abuse

Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), a non-profit media organization, has put in place innovative strategies to help arrest the increasing child abuse cases in Ghana.

To this end, the foundation has set aside the month of November in every year as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” which will be marked at its operational areas in the country.

Disclosing this to Today, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GLOMEF, Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Jnr. noted that day-in-and-day-out there are reports by the media about all sorts of injustices against children, and stressed the need for all sections of society to play a part in helping to protect children in Ghana.
According to him, violence, physical abuses as well as sexual exploitation of children are some challenges that confront children, especially in Africa.

Mr. Ahenu Jnr., said girls are particularly vulnerable, partly due to the influence of traditional practices.

He buttressed this by saying that “girls in many parts of Africa are victims of early marriage and the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).”

The main goal of the project “Child Abuse Prevention Month”, according to him, is to create awareness and reach out to communities, traditional and religious leaders as well as mobilise communities to take a strong stand on violence against children.

Laws, Mr. Ahenu Jnr. Said, must be passed to criminalize sexual exploitations and abuse of children, especially girls.

“And these laws must be enforced, so that perpetrators are punished and victims protected. It is a collective responsibility of all to advocate for an end to harmful traditional practices and corporal punishment meted out to children,” Mr. Ahenu Jnr., added.

He disclosed that even though the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the world’s most ratified human rights treaty, reinforced by the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), among other Protocols and Declarations, the problem of violence against children still exists.

He therefore stressed the need for policy-makers to release sufficient resources for activities that will promote the well-being of children.