Non maintenance of children; a major cause of streetism in Koforidua

Failure of father’s to take care of their children, especially in cohabitation or non marital relationships has been blamed for the increasing incidence of streetism and, other myriad of problems faced by children in the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Mr. Anthony Dontoh, Eastern Regional Director of the Department of Children of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection who made this revelation in an interview with GBC Sunrise FM’s Morning Show host, Mohammed Zunurene on Friday in connection with this year’s Universal Children’s Day Celebration said, as a result of such dereliction of responsibility, children end up in many unwanted behaviour which does not help them develop their potentials in life.

“Because of the difficulties these children go through, child prostitution is rife as girls as young as 12 years resort to this practice to fend for themselves”, He said.

The Regional Director also revealed that teenage pregnancy is very high according to Ghana Health Service (GHS) statistics. Adding that, some of these pregnancies do not get to the attention of the GHS, not to talk of those that end in abortions.

Mr. Dontoh also bemoaned the increasing spate of absenteeism and truancy in the municipality.

“Children go to play games instead of going to school since the parents don’t give them the needed attention and this result in poor academic performance” he said.

Mr. Dontoh, who said this issue of truancy, came up in a Regional Multi Sectoral Committee meeting, held recently, said they have identified the affected schools and will follow up to find out why the children do not go to school since, according to him, education is the only solution to poverty.

He reminded parents and guardians that it is against the law for children to sell between 8pm and 6am and during school hours. He, therefore, encouraged the general public to draw the attention of the police, CHRAJ or the Municipal assembly to such children.

The Director, who attributed some of these problems to poverty and parent’s lack of knowledge on child upbringing, cautioned parents who maltreat children through corporal punishments and other means to put a stop to it because children are the state’s property and as such, are protected by laws. Besides, such treatments, he said, make children grow timid.

Stone quarrying, drug use, child trafficking, illegal mining etc. are some of the other child related challenges confronting the Region.