The couple, Ethan Michael Ram and Hilary Holt Ram, in February, 2017 secured a ruling by a Koforidua circuit court to adopt the 3-year-old child (name withheld).

They were however, denied the opportunity by Madam Otiko Djaba to travel with the child to the USA because the adoption did not go through the statutory processes.

Not satisfied with the decision, the couple, through their lawyer, Daniel Opare Asiedu, proceeded to an Accra high court presided over by Justice Justin Kofi Dorgu, which ordered the Gender Minister and the Director of Social Welfare to release the child to the new parents.

Ms Otiko Djaba subsequently filed for a stay of execution of that order, against the backdrop that it wanted to appeal the order.

The Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, moving the application, prayed the court to set aside its initial order, considering the effects it will have in the event that the appeal succeeds.

According to him, the couple did not comply with the statutory conditions stated in the Children’s Act before the order of Mandamus was granted by the court, which resulted in the order permitting the couple to travel with the child.

He averred that although the Koforidua high court granted the order, “in so far as the applicants (couple) failed to meet the conditions of the Act do not have any locus to file the application for mandamus to enforce the orders of the Koforidua high court.”

Mr. Dame indicated that the application for mandamus filed by the couple fell in the realm of the Children’s Act as amended by the Children’s Amendment Act 2016 (Act 937), and was premature because the application fell in the category of inter-country adoption.

Mr. Dame indicated that the court ought to have considered whether all the statutory preconditions were followed before granting the order of mandamus.

He therefore, prayed the court to set aside the ruling so that he could file an appeal, adding that if the principle is not applied, the Republic of Ghana, will be denied its statutory role of protecting the interest of children in accordance with Section 2 of the Children’s Act.

Lawyer for the couple, Daniel Opare Asiedu however, vehemently opposed the application, describing it “frivolous, vexatious, unmeritorious and in bad faith.”

He said the Gender Minister and the Director of the Department of Social Welfare disregarded the order of the court and therefore do not have any capacity to seek any favours from the court.

He averred that the state was asking the court to aid them in an illegal act of seizing the child from her adoptive parents, which is against the Constitution.

Mr. Asiedu added that the state has nothing to lose if the application is not granted, but the adoptive parents have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the actions of the state.

He therefore prayed the court to refuse the application for stay of execution because the applicants have not shown any compelling reasons why the mandamus order must be stayed.

The presiding judge, Justice Dorgu, after listening to the arguments, adjourned the matter to March 8, 2018 to rule on the application.

–

Source: Daily Guide

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Speaking at the commemoration event of the Campaign on accelerated reduction of maternal mortality in Africa (CARMMA), the Minister said more needs to be done in terms of sensitization in order to stop child marriage in the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ryI8eXYMyOKUZQGte4IrFtYPA1e2nWrk”]“It is not good enough for you to say it is an honour to send your child off to marry her grandfather. For a 14 year old to marry a 68 year old man is not an honour it’s a dishonour. It is Haram. And for anybody in this twenty first century -Ghana sixty years on, and with Africa at the helm of affairs – to think that it is okay to mutilate any young girl in the name of honor of culture is also an indication that we have still a lot to do in terms of sensitization” she said.

The Minster,  who has been very vocal against child marriage, suggested that laws be transcribed into local dialects for easy interpretation by the locals in the country who might not know what they are entitled to.

“It is important that our people who cannot read, be given the laws in a medium that they can read [or listen to]. All the laws are in English or in French and they are written, and so if you cannot read, then you might not know that what you are doing is against the law and that it is criminal.”

“…So I want to implore all of us to find out how we can translate all the of laws into voice, into the different dialects, so that our people where the issues are occurring in the communities in the households will be able to understand that the time has come for them to change” she pleaded.

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By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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She noted however that, due to cross-border migration, the act is still being practiced in some parts of the country.

She said this at an event which formed part of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), meant to educate the public and key stakeholders on the effects of FGM.

“Here in Ghana, we have women coming through the cross boarder programs from the Burkina into Ghana or out of Ghana into those places, all the neighboring countries. It is reducing in places largely in Ghana, but because of the cross-border activities in some places like Pusiga, there is an increase” she revealed.

“Our government also sends a strong signal to perpetrators that Africa frowns on their misdeeds; and harmful traditional practices, negative traditional practices must be condemned.”

A woman, who was a victim of FGM at the age of twelve, spoke of her ordeal and stated that the act was still ongoing, but was now being done secretively in order not to attract public scorn.

“I was twelve years when my grandmother mutilated me, I bled a lot. When I was going to give birth, I suffered, and the doctors had to use a tube to pull out the baby because he said I had no clitoris,” she narrated.

“Female genital mutilation is still ongoing in my region, but it’s done in secret. There is a new method they use, they use hot water and Shea butter and press it to the clitoris to stop it from growing. I would not do it to my child, when I give birth to a female child. I’m against it and I want the government to do something about it,” she added.

The Minister stated that, the government is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of FGM are made to face the law, adding that support systems have been put in place for victims.

“After condemning and criminalizing it, we support and put in services in the communities for sensitization, for counseling, and how we can abandon the practices,” she said.

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By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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A 17-year-old is currently in the grips of the police for allegedly committing the crime. The suspect, who is also a minor, has been remanded into police custody after appearing before a court on Monday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5Ftkf9xjJWvB9XngC9CY7nIS5CgstRoP”]According to the ministry, a mapping of community perception of child protection issues was conducted in 2010, and it has led to the development of the justice for children’s policy in 2015.

The study recommended a review of all existing legislation on children especially children in contact with the law.

Speaking at a media briefing in Accra on Monday, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, said in light of the study, the Gender Ministry will from October 31, 2017 embark on a review of child related legislation to prevent juvenile offenders, and also strengthen formal and community justice systems, and link them up to enhance access to justice and protection for children in conflict with the law.

“The ministry as a matter of urgency is working closely with various key members who are involved in this mission. The public information campaign on the socio economic repercussions of defilement in this country, will be addressed aggressively. This campaign will seek to raise awareness, and to encourage the general public to report cases of defilement and rape immediately to the police.”

Madam Otiko Djaba also stated that, it is about time stiffer punishment is given to perpetrators of rape and defilement.

“When harsher punishment is given to people who rape and defile children, it will go a long way to serve as a deterrent.”

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By: Naa Kwaamah Siaw-Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to a letter sighted by citifmonline.com, 30 percent of schools in each district should be reserved as protocol allocation for the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mabf8bQAtHfL9UzYyfT0puK63LeNhaFl”]The directive according to the statement is “from the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, based on a cabinet decision” and must be complied with by all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

The directive per the statement signed by William Charles Quao, Acting National Coordinator for the School Feeding programme, will take effect from the 2017/2018 academic year which begins next month [September].

The Gender Ministry also charged the MMDCEs to also engage more women activists, women executives, queen-mothers among others as caterers for the programme.

“30 percent of the schools in the district should be reserved for protocol from the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection…The Final selection form the district which excludes the 30% protocol should include strong women activists, female opinion leaders, other women executives, queen-mothers and members of women groups,” the statement added.

The statement also made the following directive:

A panel, under the chairmanship of the MMDCE, comprising the following members below, is to be set up immediately;

• An educationist
• A health practitioner
• A caterer nominated by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection
• Two women opinion leaders
• One of the members should be selected as a secretary.

Forms should be sold at the stipulated cost of GHc50.00 and accounted to MMDCEs by 9/8/17.

We’ll settle school feeding arrears soon

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba earlier said government had allocated GHc114 million to offset all arrears owed caterers under the school feeding programme.

“Concerning the caterers’ arrears…the NPP government has made provision for GHC114 million to pay the arrears, also for this year, GHC200 million has been set aside for the school feeding programme…So for caterers that we owe, government will certainly pay you; but it will not be immediate because the processes have to go through. So I am pleading to all caterers we owe that, the processes have started; and we will work on it as soon as possible to ensure that, those who did not cook for the 75 days we will deduct your monies and those who cooked throughout the 75 days, we will pay off your arrears. we are doing this to ensure value for money,” she added.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, the Sector Minister, said government intends to compliment the cash transfer component of LEAP households with skills development to help people out of poverty.

Madam Djaba indicated that 16 million Ghana cedis had been earmarked for the disbursement under the LEAP programme for 213,048 households across the country.

She said the Ministry is working on skills training (development) modules for individuals so that after they are equipped they can be weaned off the LEAP programme gradually.

Some skills development modules under the LEAP programme, include piggery, kente and basket weaving.

However, she said, the skills development would depend on the needs of an area or a district.

Madam Djaba noted that households with women as heads would be targeted adding “as government we have plans to refocus the LEAP programme to ensure that it does not become a source of political patronage.”

In this regard, the Minister said the sector would adopt effective and accurate testing to identify and enroll deserving beneficiary households with the female-headed households as the Ministry’s target.

Currently in the Upper East Region, the Ministry and the Japanese Government has commenced a pilot programme in the design of various handicrafts, she said, and expressed optimism that they would be exported to fetch income for the households.

Madam Djaba said the LEAP programme, which currently covered 216 districts, would be extended by December, this year, to cover all districts.

She said 11 districts in Ashanti and Greater Accra regions which were not under the LEAP programme would soon be covered.

The Minister said the programme intended to roll out adult education to beneficiaries so they could learn numeracy skills to have control over their money and accounts.

Touching on the benefits of the LEAP programme, Madam Djaba said more than 90,000 households had been registered free-of-charge onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

She said this had been factored into the LEAP programme to ensure LEAP beneficiaries receive better health care.

The Minister said studies into the programme had shown 12 per cent increase in school enrolment of children.

“A study by the University of North Carolina and ISSER has shown a significant increase in livelihood savings and gift received. LEAP has had impact on debt repayment and reduced loan holdings among female headed households,” she said.

LEAP, one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry which commenced in 2008, formed part of six interventions in the social protection basket.

The other interventions include Ghana school feeding, capitation grant, and free school uniform and exercise books.

LEAP is a cash transfer programme for the extremely poor and vulnerable households which had orphans and vulnerable children, persons with severe disability without any productive capacity, elderly persons 65 years and above, pregnant women and children under two years.

One eligible member household receives GH¢ 64.00, two and three eligible member household receive GH¢ 76.00 and GH¢ 88.00 respectively. Four or more eligible member households receive GH¢ 106.00.

–

Source: GNA

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The Eleven Member AU Committee, Chaired by Professor Benyam Dawit Mezmur, lauded Ghana on the various interventions and plans the country has adopted all geared toward protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of children in the country at the ACERWC’s 28 Ordinary session and the 12 Pre-session of the Committee meeting at Banjul, The Gambia.

Ghana had submitted the country’s initial, first and second consolidated report on the implementation of ACERWC Charter on the rights and welfare of the child to the Committee and appeared before the experts to defend issues raised.

The Country report covered ten thematic areas which include: General measures taken to realize the rights and welfare of the child in the policies and law of the State party or in any other international convention or agreement in force in the state.

The others are the definition of the child under domestic law and regulations; civil rights and freedom; family environment and alternative care; health and welfare; education, leisure and cultural activities; special protection measures; and responsibilities of the child.

Mrs Della Sowah, Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who led Ghana’s delegation, said Government has taken measures to promote positive cultural values and traditions and to discourage those that are inconsistent with the rights, duties and obligations contained in the Children’s Charter.

In addition, the legal framework has also been strengthened with the amendment of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), to criminalise female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C).

She said to emphasise the seriousness of the offence, the punishment is a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years and not more than ten years.

“A new section 101A also makes sexual exploitation an offence and punishable in the case of a child to a term of imprisonment of not less than 7 years and not more than 25 years”.

She said the Government under President John Dramani Mahama has also instituted an institutional framework with the restructuring of the Gender Ministry with an expanded mandate to coordinate and ensure gender equality and equity.

The Gender Ministry is also to promote and protect the welfare and rights of children, the vulnerable and excluded and persons with disability, and empower them to fully participate in the national development process.

Mrs Sowah said the Gender Ministry is responsible for the overall coordination of all child-related matters in the country.

She said the Department of Children (DOC) serves as a technical department under the Ministry and plays a lead role in carrying out this function of the Ministry.

The DOC is the main coordinating agency with the mandate to coordinate child rights implementation in Ghana. “It plays a significant leading role in the effective formulation and implementation of child-related policies, as well as the enforcement of child-related legislation,” she said

She added that, “For child rights promotion, DOC undertakes activities aimed at fostering behaviour change of all actors in charge of child welfare and protection at the national, regional and district levels. Information management and documentation of relevant child-related issues is key to DOC’s work. Consequently, the DOC carries out research, coordinates the collation and compilation of all relevant child-related information which allows periodic evaluation of the status of child rights promotion in the country”.

The Deputy Gender Minister noted that the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has established a unit on children, which addresses cases involving children and monitors the implementation of children’s rights.

“The Commission conducts annual monitoring of various sector policies and their implementation. Its findings are published in an annual report on the state of human rights in Ghana,” she noted.

Mrs Sowah also highlighted challenges which included financial, human and material resource constraints as well as structural limitations to the full implementation of the charter.

“In spite of these challenges, a lot of significant achievements have been made to improve the rights and welfare of children through democracy and good governance which enabled strong government commitment and support for the implementation of child-focused programmes, immense support,” noted.

She said Government also in collaboration with UNICEF has been an instrumental point in ensuring some level of progress for children.
She praised the media for being proactive in the coverage and awareness creation on issues concerning children and the development of new legislation and strengthening of existing laws and policies which put the government and its partners on their toes in issues relating to children are dealt with appropraitely.

The delegation included Mr Kwesi Armo-Himbson, Chief Director, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Mrs Gifty Kusi, Representative of Parliament; Mrs Eunice Sackey, Ghana Health Services; Mrs Helena Obeng-Asamoah, Department of Children; Mr Sylvester Kyei-Gyamfi, Head, Information Research and Advocacy (IRAD) Department of Children; and Mr Edmund Foley, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

The AU Committee of Experts seeks to promote and protect the rights enshrined in the Charter particularly; collect and document information, commission inter disciplinary assessment of situations on African problems in the fields of the rights and welfare of the child, organize meetings, encourage national and local institutions concerned with the rights and welfare of the child and where necessary, give its views and make recommendations to Government.

It also formulate and lay down principles and rules aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of children in Africa; cooperate with other African, International and Regional Institutions and organizations concerned with the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the child; and monitor’s the implementation and ensure protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter.

The Committee also interprets the provisions of the Charter at the request of a state party, an institution of the OAU/AU or any other person or institution recognized by OAU/AU and to perform such other tasks as may be entrusted to it by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

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Source: GNA

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This is because the Children’s Amendment Bill currently before Parliament makes the clearance mandatory.

The Bill, which aims to protect adopted children both home and abroad, spells out conditions under which the adoption process can be reversed.

The new amendment will also see the introduction of age limits as well as in-country adoption and foster care to prevent children from being put in foster homes, which affect them negatively.

Deputy Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Della Sowah told Citi News, the amendments are meant to protect the interest of children in the country.

“The amendments are aimed to make us compliant so that we seek in everything the best interest of the Children. Sometimes Children adopted and trafficked and other things and so we have to protect their interest and make sure that if somebody comes to adopt a child, he or she is adopting the child for the purpose that they intended to adopt the Children.”

She lamented that there has been instances where persons who adopt children are unable to take proper care of them due to financial constraints and ultimately not giving the children the best of care.

She said with the amendment completed, adopted children can be guaranteed proper care.

She noted that “We want to ensure that those coming for adoption are capable of looking after the children hitherto, any district court can grant the adoption of a child but now it has to be by a high court.”

She also revealed that “there will be the creation of a central adoption authority and they will review all adoptions and will operate at the district, regional and national level” to ensure this.

’85 orphanages closed down’

Government last year closed down some eighty-five orphanages in parts of the country over their inability to meet the standards of the Department of Social Welfare of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The affected homes were operating under poor conditions, having a high number of children per care-giver, operating below standards and offering poor nutrition and health care.

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku & Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This is to ensure the aged in the area receive much needed healthcare at little or no cost to them.

Speaking to Citi News at a Durbar for chiefs and people of New Edubiase, the sector minister, Nana Oye Lithur, said the ministry has so far enrolled about 20,000 aged people onto NHIS.

She said the ministry was embarking on a nationwide exercise to enroll more aged people onto the scheme through a collaboration with the local government and the NHIS.

‘Aged, prisoners registered on NHIS in UE/R’

The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), earlier last year, commenced free registration of some eight hundred aged persons, and hundreds of prisoners’ in the Upper East Region onto the NHIS to enable them access free health care.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The 33-year-old has a year left on his current contract after signing from Manchester City on a free transfer last summer.

He made 24 appearances for the Reds last season, including 15 starts in the league as Liverpool narrowly missed out on a first league title since 1990.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said Toure – part of the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ side and a two-time FA Cup winner – was a key part of his plans for the new season, even if he was not a regular starter.

“Kolo has been an incredible player. We brought him in because he is a winner, an authentic winner,” said Rodgers, talking at a news conference on Liverpool’s pre-season trip to the United States.

“He’s someone who doesn’t play every single week but when he does play, he plays very well. Every day of his life in training, he gives his all.

“Players like Kolo and Steven Gerrard, the older statesmen of the team, have been absolutely first class. We’re hungry and ambitious; we went close last year.

“That inspires us and gives us great motivation to go on this year. That is the beauty of this group of players – it’s a very hungry group because that’s what we’re trying to bring in.”

Source: Sky Sports

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