Network warns against children traveling alone

The Upper East Child Protection Network, has warned that it would not allow children below the age of 16 to travel unaccompanied to southern Ghana.

Mr David Aniah, Organiser of the Network who issued the warning during a debate organised by the National Commission for Civic Education for students from the Zuarungu Senior High School and Zamse Senior High School, observed that children travelling unaccompanied from the region to southern Ghana  is assuming a worrying trend which calls for urgent solution.

He said the peak season for the phenomenon is usually during school vacations.

“We will bring you back and sit with your parents to discuss these issues and explore possible ways of supporting and getting to the appropriate authorities to support you,” he told the students.

Mr Aniah said it was  not only dangerous for parents to allow their children to travel unaccompanied to southern Ghana to do menial jobs, but it was also against the Children’s Act.

He said any parent caught in the act would be prosecuted.

Mr Aniah said many of these children become victims of rape and child labour. They also become teenage mothers and in the process contract sexually transmitted infections including HIV and AIDS.

Mr Azu Bosco, Deputy Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, asked the students to be law abiding and to take their studies seriously, stressing: “Your success in life will   depend on how seriously you take  your studies.”

Source: GNA