Programs Coordinator at the Gender Violence Survival Support Network, Gloria Kankam has urged government and other stakeholders to step up efforts with the implementation of child right policies, to ensuring the protection of all children across the country.
According to her, Ghana over the years has signed on to relevant child protection conventions, treaties and polices that would ensure the protection of children, but has lacked the political will for the full implementation of such documentation.
Speaking to Diamond news via phone to mark the United Nations Universal Children’s Day, the Child rights advocate, stressed that, the rights of children are non-negotiable hence government and other relevant stakeholders should address all related concerns of children.
“We know that the rights of children are non-negotiable for instance looking at the issue of education, shelter, clothing, health and protection, we have done something but we need to do more”. “We have the policies, we have the conventions but the implementation is our problem, it is up to us to hold our words into action”.
Gloria Kankam lamented that, many Ghanaian children are still deprived of their rights to basic education whiles abuses of all forms are meted to many children across the country.
Gloria Kankam is also advocated an amendment to the Ghanaian educational policy to allow more practical and for children to explore and identify their hidden potentials at early stages instead of only focusing on theories.
The Gender Violence Survival Support Network Co-ordinator, stressed that, the rights to education of children must match the 21st century learning system which is focused on creativity; innovation; critical thinking and entrepreneurship to enable children become problem solvers in society.
“Today everybody is talking about 9, 1s, that is not the 21st century learning system, the 21st century learning system is looking at how the child is able to communicate, is able to coordinate, is able to get involved in activities in society in actual fact Ghana has to re-look at the educational system again”.
“They keep on changing them and they are changing them for the worse, not for the better because if we really go by the 21st century learning system we are not there, now education is looking at critical thinking, is looking at creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and where are all these for the children”
United Nations Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 and is celebrated on November 20th each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide and improving children’s welfare.
The theme for the 2018 celebration is “Children of Today, Our Keepers Tomorrow”
