[ 2011-04-07 ]

Only 15 per cent cases of violence against children are prosecuted
Dr Iyabode Olusanmi, UNICEF Representative in
Ghana, on Wednesday disclosed that only 15 per
cent of cases of violence against children are
prosecuted in Ghana.

This, she said, was because of threats from
accused persons, preference for out-of-court
settlement mostly by accused persons, trauma faced
by some plaintiffs and delays in prosecution.

Dr Olusanmi, who was speaking during a courtesy
call on Mr Martin Amidu, Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General, appealed to the government to
endeavour to pass into law all international
conventions relating to children in order to
ensure their full protection.

"UNICEF would also be glad if government would
come out with constitutional reforms on issues
relating to children," she added.

She congratulated government for the passage of
the Child Trafficking and the Domestic Violence
Acts and the adoption of the outcome of The Hague
Conference on Child Adoption.

She urged government to occasionally organise
capacity building programmes for personnel who
handled issues pertaining to justice for
children.

Mr Amidu lauded the relationship between the two
countries and pledged government's commitment
towards the well-being of children in the country
by coming out with appropriate laws concerning
them.

"The survival of a country depends on its children
and what you do for the child today will make him
the adult of tomorrow."

Mr Amidu noted that the ratification of the Right
of the Child had caused Ghanaians to adopt a more
positive attitude towards issues relating to
children.

"Today, you would hear a lot of discussions
pertaining to issues relating to the well-being of
children in the country and it is fantastic," he
explained.

Mr Amidu pledged government's commitment towards
the abrogation or amendment of any law that was
not in the best interest of children.

He called for more education against cultural
practices, which were not in agreement with the
laws of the country.

Source - GNA

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