BThe Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Department of Children, Ghana Refugee Board, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, Plan Ghana and other Partners have joined the
African community to wish all children in Ghana a happy Day of the African Child.
The celebration of the Day of the African Child (DAC) is a reminder for all and sundry to stand in support of the rights of children across the African continent.
It is also observed to commemorate the gallant children who marched in protest against the poor quality of education they received, and demanded to be taught in their own languages on 16th June, 1976 in Soweto, South Africa.
The Ministry in a press release said “the theme for the 2019 celebration of the Day of the African Child (DAC) is “Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First.”
According to the African Union, humanitarian crises result from various factors or events such as natural disasters, man-made resulting from armed conflict, tensions or human actions.
“These crises often lead to the violations of children’s rights as a result of vulnerable conditions… These violations include non-provision of education, health or an adequate standard of living for children to enjoy their rights, and the effects of these violations may affect boys and girls differently.”
Children in vulnerable situations, it said, suffer most from these crises.
The choice of hosting this year’s event in the Ampain Refugee Camp with the refugees is very significant and is in line with the SDG mantra of leaving no one behind, according to the release.
Ghana has played host to refugees over the years and is currently host to some 13,000 refugees and asylum seekers from different countries.
The Government of Ghana is doing so much to create a conducive atmosphere for children to grow up in a protected environment in such situations.
There is a very strong legal and institutional framework to protect and respond to situations of violence, the statement indicated.