Minister appeals to parents to provide needs of children

Mr. Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday appealed to parents to provide their children with the basic necessities of life.

By so doing, he said, the children would not be exposed to unnecessary dangers and also lead healthy lifestyles.

Mr. Opoku was addressing more than 50 children drawn from 37 communities in Asutifi and Tain districts of the region at the opening of a Girls Conference in Sunyani.

The three-day conference, which is on the theme “Catch them young-nurturing girls for leadership,” was organized by Action Aid Ghana an NGO.

Mr. Opoku said teenage pregnancy was becoming alarming and was a major contributing factor to school dropouts.

He advised the school children to shun illicit sexual practices and read their books continuously so they would grow to become useful citizens.

Mr. Opoku said the government intended to decentralize the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs so that issues affecting women could be solved at the grassroots level.

Mrs. Christiana Amarchey, Regional programmes Manager of Action Aid, stressed on the importance of helping build the self confidence of girls and to nurture them in schools for leadership roles.

She noted with regret that even though women formed 51 percentage of the Ghanaian population their participation in decision making is still low.

Mrs. Akua Akubuor Debrah, Regional Director of Education who presided, advised school children to use their leisure hours to read their books.

GNA