“High numbers of school children selling by the road side is worrying”- Obeng

Koforidua, June 30, GNA- The Eastern Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Mr Kingsley Obeng, on Monday expressed worry over the high incidence of children selling by the road side at the time they are supposed to be in school, and called for more parental care.

To him the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal which advocates for the right of all children to education, health and shelter could not be achieved without parents performing their basic and natural role in providing proper care and basic facilities for their children.

Mr Obeng who was addressing school children from the Ghateco Junior High school and the Good Shepherd Anglican School at a debate to commemorate African Union Day of the Child in Koforidua, therefore, called on parents to live up to their parental responsibilities.

He said the practice of children selling by the road side although in the Ghanaian context could be seen as helping their parents run the home, could in the long term pose a threat to their future welfare.

Mr Obeng urged the children not to allow bad company and other social vices to influence their education since it was their only hope for a better life in future.

The Regional Director of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, Mr Samuel Dontoh, said the debate was part of activities lined up to celebrate the regional version of the AU Day of the Child in commemoration of the 1992 Soweto incident in South Africa in which many school children were killed.

GNA