The Greater Accra Regional Director of the Department of Community Development, Ms. Matilda Mahama, has called on communities to build strong circles of support around children to ensure their protection and overall development.
According to her, every member of society forms part of the environment that surrounds a child and therefore has a responsibility to contribute to child protection efforts.
Ms Mahama made the call at the opening of a three-day training programme on the Child Protection Community Facilitation Toolkit and its Application for stakeholders within the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly in Accra.
She stressed the importance of effective communication on child protection matters, noting that awareness and education were critical in addressing challenges affecting children.
The training, which runs from June 8 to June 10, 2026, aims to strengthen participants’ knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and equip them with practical skills for applying the toolkit within their communities.
The Municipal Coordinating Director of the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, Mr. John Nana Owu, said the Integrated Social Services Programme, which focuses on child protection, was the result of strong collaboration among key institutions including the Office of the Head of Local Governance, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, UNICEF, and other relevant stakeholders.
He explained that the programme was designed to support Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in preventing and responding to violence against children within communities.
Mr. Owu noted that the Child Protection Community Facilitation Toolkit, developed by UNICEF and its partners, would help participants acquire the skills needed to engage community members in identifying and addressing child protection concerns.
The training focuses on issues such as child abuse, child neglect, online safety, and drug abuse among children.
He urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively and perform their respective roles in addressing child protection challenges within the municipality.
Speaking on the topic, Understanding Child Protection, the Senior Programmes Officer at the Department of Children, Mr. Yakubu Andani, observed that certain harmful cultural practices and taboos continued to hinder the growth and development of children.
He explained that children often miss out on opportunities and essential support when they are disconnected from key actors and institutions within society.
He called for proactive measures to reduce risks to children, including training parents and caregivers on effective childcare practices and developing policies and programmes that promote child welfare.
Also addressing participants, the Deputy Director at the Department of Social Welfare, Mr. Samuel Enyo Anaglatey, highlighted the growing importance of online safety for children.
He urged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s internet usage and make use of parental control tools to protect them from online threats.
Mr. Anaglatey noted that children exposed to the internet could face risks such as cyberbullying, online harassment, exposure to pornography, identity theft, and other harmful digital activities.
Participants at the training included Assembly Members, representatives from Traditional Authorities, Department of Births and Deaths, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) the Municipal Health Directorate and other Community Stakeholders.
The programme is expected to strengthen community-based child protection mechanisms and enhance collaboration among stakeholders in safeguarding the rights and welfare of children in the Okaikwei North Municipality.
Source: onma.gov.gh
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson, AD IIB