Involve Children in Decision-Making -- Minister

Involve Children in decision-making-Minister
By Lindsay Robinson

AFRICA CELEBRATED its annual International Day of the African Child on June 16, with a call by the Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Akua Sena Dansua to involve children more in decision-making, both in the policy world and at home.
Hon. Sena Dansua who was presenting a paper on the day on the floor of Parliament yesterday said when an important family decision is to be made, children should not just be sent away but encouraged to participate in the discussion.
The Day highlights the challenges and tragedies but also the potential and achievements of children on the continent.
Her plea was witnessed by children who had been selected from each of the nation’s ten regions to attend the day’s parliamentary session and also to contribute to discussions about the African child with the Committee on Gender and Children, thus lending credence to the Minister’s call.
This year’s theme is “Africa Fit for Children: Call for accelerated action towards their survival,” reflecting the call for accelerated progress on the United Nations “Declaration and Plan of Action of Africa Fit for Children,” which was adopted in 2001.
It called for various improvements, including increasing access to education, participation in decision-making, overcoming HIV/AIDS, physical protection, and mobilizing resources for these goals.
The annual celebration of African children commemorates the tragedy of the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa, in which thousands of school children protested against the poor quality of education in apartheid-era South Africa, leading to hundreds of deaths and more than a thousand wounded.
Other MPs who voiced their support for the day included the Majority Leader and MP for Nadowli West, Hon. Alban Bagbin, who warned against the practice of certain religions to prevent children’s receiving life-saving medicine or crucial education.
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, MP for Bantama, emphasized the value of listening to the nation’s “future leaders,” especially on matters like education, health, and nutrition that directly impact them, while Mrs. Irene Naa Torshie Addo, MP for Tema West, urged the country to focus on the extra challenges faced by the girl child.
She went on to say that in her constituency, more than 250 children sleep outside every night, and across Africa there were more children outside of homes than in them, according to a study from two years ago.
Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku, MP for Evalue-Gwira, for her part told the august assembly to remember that African children also have enormous potential and have accomplished much despite the challenges they face every day.