Minister tasks traditional rulers to contribute to national discourse

Sunyani, Aug 3, GNA - Dr Henry Seidu Daanaa, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, has advised traditional rulers to make inputs into the national discourse for policy formulation and implementation.

He said as the embodiment of the people, chiefs and queen mothers play critical and useful roles towards accelerated national development, and therefore, urged them to perform such duties with diligence.

Dr Daanaa gave the advice when he spoke at a consultative meeting on the Justice for Children Policy for the members of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in Sunyani.

It was organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with support from the United Nations Children's Fund.

Dr Daanaa told the chiefs and queen mothers to play lead roles on issues affecting children, women and development.

Pemampem Yaw Kabrese V, President of the Regional House of Chiefs and the Paramount Chief of Yeji, attributed the high level of child delinquency to poor parental care and neglect.

He observed that the proper upbringing and development of children are not the responsibilities of parents alone, but requires collective approach from chiefs, queen mothers and the society.

Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, Paramount Chief of Kukuom, noted that that divorce is rife in the society, and called for practicable means of saving marriages.

He observed that streetism, act of immorality as well as child trafficking and other child delinquencies are as a result of divorce.

He observed that when marriages are saved such problems would be brought under control.

Mr Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi, Head of Research at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, noted that in spite of the several institutional and legal reforms, violence, abuse and exploitation of children still persisted.

He explained that the Justice for Children Policy was aimed at giving holistic protection to children.

GNA