Child Protection Laws To Go Through Amendments

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection will from Tuesday, October 31, 2017, begin a process to amend child protection laws to ensure stronger protection for minors against sexual predators.

At a press conference in Accra, the Minister, Otiko Afisa Djaba, said stiffer punishment for sexual offences against children will be a key amendment that would be considered.

The move by the Gender Minister is in reaction to the defilement of a four-year-old girl at Assin Adadientem in the Central Region.

Many other reports of rape of defilement have been emerging from different parts of the country since the defilement case broke last week.

The review of the child protection laws, which begins today October 31, 2017, is also aimed at strengthening formal and community justice and link them up to enhance access to justice and protection, the Minister said.

“The Ministry, as a matter of urgency, is working closely with the various key members who are involved in this issue; and the public information campaign on the socio-economic repercussions of defilement in this country will be addressed aggressively,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency. John Ntim Fordjour, says he is saddened by the news that another girl in his constituency has been raped even before the dust settles on the 4-year-old girl's case.

He has also promised to begin a public awareness campaign about sexual offences in his constituency.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com