Irresponsible Parenting as the leading Cause of Juvenile Delinquency

Mrs. Susan Sabaa

The Executive Director of Child Research and Resource Centre[ CRRECENT] Mrs. Susan Sabaa, has pointed out irresponsible parenting as the key causes of juvenile offences in the country.

She further cited domestic abuse, dysfunctional homes, poverty, divorce, child labour and child trafficking as challenges that trigger child vulnerability in the society.

This she said, these young people who fall into conflict with the law are put into jail or youth centres and when they are released they indulge in more crimes.

According to her, this happens due to the absence of supporting systems for effective re-integration into the society. She stressed that, it was this regard that she is working around the clock to propose a structured re-integration mechanism for such juvenile offenders in the country.

Mrs. Sabaa, who is also a human rights activist made these remarks when a press soiree was held in commemoration of the CRRECENT's 10th anniversary in Accra.

She explained that the 10th anniversary which is the on the theme: Emerging Social Change and Child Vulnerability- The Juvenile Offender in Focus” seeks to share lessons and also to interact over pertinent child protection issues in the country and to advocate for Government's commitment and increased resources for child and youth protection in the country.

According to her when every child, is being given equal opportunity and support, they could make it life. She said, it is in this regard, her outfit is building a well integrated society that recognizes children in every sector and creates the necessary space and opportunity to respond to their developmental needs.

Adding that, the NGO which was founded 10 years ago has contributed its quota to the protection of children and youth working within the framework of Ghana's legislative and policy frameworks.

She added that, they have also addressed gaps in juvenile Justice Administration System in the country through a structured reintegration programme for discharged juvenile from correctional centres with a track record of high success rate of stability and low recidivism in the past 4 years.

She hinted that, a research funded by Plan Ghana and conducted by CRRECENT in 2010 showed that 80% of the juvenile offenders come from settings where both parents are not living together, deceased, divorced or separated or simple not being responsible.

This she said, other serious outcomes of child non-maintenance apart from juvenile crime are teenage pregnancy, high rate of school drop-out and trafficking of children. Others are Child labour, independent child migration to urban centres, sexual exploitation and child delinquency.

This she said all these social vices undermine the development of a country. According to her outfit has planned to run a robust campaign on Responsible Parenting in the year 2015, and will situate it within the completed Child and Family Welfare and Justice Policy. She added that a halfway shelter would also be established to facilitate the transition of juveniles into society after discharge.