Protect Children During Ghana 2008

Child Rights International (CRI), a child rights organisation, has requested that a curfew commencing 2000 hours to 0600 hours should be placed on children below 18 during the Ghana 2008 football tournament.

CRI has also appealed to the Ghana Police Service to beef up security in cities hosting the tournament to ensure children were not exploited. Mr Bright Appiah, Executive Secretary CRI, said it had received information that some persons intend to recruit children as child prostitutes in the Kumasi metropolis.

He said information had it that recruitment of children would start in December 15 and would involve children aged 15 and above. Speaking to the Ghana New Agency at Senchi after addressing journalists at a two-day workshop on child trafficking, Mr Appiah said CRI had written to some ministries concerning the issue.

The ministries included ministries of Interior, Justice and Attorney General, Women and Children Affairs, Manpower, Youth and Employment and the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice on the issue.

Mr Appiah said if the request were not heeded to it would be compelled to use the court to test the law on children. He called for strict supervision of students in boarding houses because some of them might be recruited.