News
Gender Ministry commends Police for Swift action, condems abuse of 12-year-old boy
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has commended the Ghana Police
Service for their swift intervention and the prompt arrest of individuals involved in the abuse of a 12-year-old boy in New Ankasa, Western Region
The Ministry has strongly condemned the inhumane and degrading treatment captured in a disturbing viral video circulating on social media.
The footage shows a young boy with his hands tied with anylon rope, being subjected to severe physical assault by two adults.
The Ministry noted that such barbaric and degrading acts of violence against children constitute gross violations of their rights and dignity.
“They have no place in our society and are in direct contravention of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), which mandates the Government and all stakeholders to safeguard the survival, protection, and development of every child in Ghana:
The Ministry is relieved to learn that the victim has reccived medical attention and has been
reunited with his father,” they added.
The Ministry pledged to follow up on the case and collaborate with law enforcement, social welfare agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure the child receives the necessary psychosocial support and protection.
In addition, the Ministry stressed that it remained committed to advocating for the rights of all children and ensuring that perpetrators of child abuse are brought to justice.
According to them, public awareness efforts will also be intensified through the Ghanaians Against Child Abuse (GACA) campaign to promote the protection and well-being of every child in Ghana.
We urge the public to be vigilant and report all cases of abuse, violence, or neglect against children
to the appropriatc authoritics. Every child descryes to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, frcc from fcar and harm.
“The public is encouraged to report cases of child abuse and related concerns,” they added.
Former Subin Member of Parliament and New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary aspirant, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has criticised the party’s performance in the 2024 general elections, blaming its leadership for failing to effectively engage young people.
According to him on Channelone TV, the party gave the youth the opportunity to lead but they “let it down,” contributing to the NPP’s heavy defeat at the polls.
Mr. Boakye Antwi said the party did not rise to the challenge during the elections, particularly in communicating its achievements to Ghanaians.
“We gave the youth the chance to come and lead this party, but they left it aground,” he stated.
He argued that although the NPP introduced several social interventions while in government, including the Free Senior High School policy, the party failed to properly highlight these achievements.
He added that the party also struggled to respond to key issues raised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), including economic challenges, governance concerns, and other national debates.
Mr. Boakye Antwi questioned why the party remained silent on major national matters, saying this weakened its position in the eyes of voters.
“Why are we not communicating to the agencies?” he asked, stressing the need for stronger engagement and messaging.
He further noted that public perception of the NPP had worsened, with many Ghanaians associating the party with corruption despite its track record in government.
“It is like we have traded places with the National Democratic Congress. The things they were criticised for are now what Ghanaians are attacking us for,” he said.
Mr. Boakye Antwi maintained that the NPP is a party that respects the rule of law and promotes ideas, but said it failed to project this image effectively to the public.
He pointed out that the scale of the party’s defeat shows deeper problems, noting that the NPP lost the election by about 2.1 million votes.
“We didn’t lose this election by a small margin. That should tell us something went wrong,” he added.
He called on the party to reflect on its shortcomings and improve its communication strategy ahead of future elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), through the Department of Social Welfare, in collaboration with Cherish a Child Foundation, joined the global community to commemorate the International Day for Street Children under the theme, “Protect, Not Punish.”
The event highlighted the urgent need to shift societal and institutional responses toward street children from criminalisation to protection, care, and inclusion.
In an address delivered on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Chairperson of the event, Dr. Prince Boamah Abrah, emphasised that street children are among the most vulnerable in society and deserve compassion, not condemnation.
He noted that many of these children are driven to the streets by factors such as poverty, neglect, abuse, and limited access to basic social services.
According to him, the theme calls for a fundamental shift in mindset—from criminalising vulnerability to protecting dignity, and from neglecting needs to restoring hope.
Dr. Prince Boamah Abrah stressed that the government, through programmes such as LEAP and the School Feeding Programme, supports vulnerable households to reduce the economic pressures that push children onto the streets.
He called on all to choose compassion over indifference and protection over punishment in order to save children living on the streets.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr. Marian W. A. Kpakpah, a Principal Programmes Officer from the Department of Children, Madam Angela Kangah, stated that justice means creating systems that listen to children and respond to their needs rather than punishing them for their poverty.
“In doing so, we are choosing to invest in a brighter future for the entire country,” she added.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Cherish a Child Foundation, Madam Salome Delali, emphasised that street children are not criminals. They are victims of circumstance who need protection and support to rebuild their lives. She called for stronger collaboration among various institutions to successfully help remove children from the streets.
A moving segment of the programme featured testimonies from Nicholas Mawunyo, a street-connected child who shared his daily struggles and aspirations. His voice reinforced the central message of the theme—urging society to see street children as children in need of care rather than punishment.
The commemoration ended with a collective call to action for all stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable children and ensure that no child is left behind.
