Children are the most vulnerable being in society and are more prone to all kinds of dangerous abuses. The is always report one way or another how children are being abused either by neighbours, teachers or parents on daily bases in our media.from teachers caning kids and in the process hurt their eyes, rape, defilement and so on. some parents too put dangerous substance around and children get hurt when they come into contact with them. Since Ghana gained independence in 1957, we have joined many international organisations to help in the fight and protection on the rights of children which have even led us to adopt the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But it seems this is only on paper and not being enforced. its heartbreaking seeing kids left alone in the big cities to fend for themselves and also for their parents who are supposed to actually work and give them a happy childhood.
I was doing a video documentary on the kayayei( a female head porter in Ghana) for my school assignment . I was shocked to see young girls living on their own in the streets. young girl who still have flat chest and have not even experienced their first menstrual cycle yet. These girls are expose to all kinds of dangers while on the streets to make a living. It looks like those in authority to ensure that children are safeguarded against all kinds of harm in the environment and even from parents do not really know what their mandate in the constitution is or are adamant in their work. Article 28(1)(d) of the 1992 constitution state that parliament shall enact laws necessary to ensure " children and young persons receive special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards;" But how many of our parliamentarians know that they have a duty to protect the children of Ghana from physical and moral hazards. these kayayei girls live in the most dehumanising conditions that one cannot imagine. from their sleeping rooms to their bathrooms and surroundings is nothing to write home about. the neglect on this young girls is worrisome. Young girls who even live with their parents get raped or abuse what about girls living on their own without parents protection and living in wooden structures that do have locks on the doors. who is going to protect them? These wooden structure is very small and they sleep in tens and twenties without any proper ventilation. Their sleeping condition expose them to communicable disease.
Another feature i found in these girls room was their bulb switch which i called a death trap. the switch had no cover or protective on it. These girls complained of electric shock everyday. The floor of these wooden structures they slept on was another challenge for them. They slept on the floor with just one piece of cloth to cover their bodies exposing them to bedbugs and other insects they complained of.
Laws are there to be enforced and not just for having sake. These child neglect is an issue that all stakeholders in the country should come together and solve.Dreams of kids are killed and these kids are denied their childhood. If we believe as a nation that children are the future leaders of these our nation then we owe it to the nation to give these children the bright future they serve. lets say no to child neglect
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