THE CHILDRENS’ ACT IN GHANA

IN 1998, Ghana’s Children's Act was passed into law. This legislation was imitative of Britain's 1989 Children Act. However, due to the very different socio -economic and cultural context of Ghana, implementation of the 1998 Children's Act was problematic.

Finally, alternative courses of action to protect children and maintain their welfare are considered with the specific socio-economic and cultural setting of Ghana.

However, under Section 91 of the Children’s Act, 1998, it stated that, the minimum age for a child to work in hazardous places is 18 years. Children are claimed to be the bedrock and the lifeblood of the nation’s future but have become more than slaves in their own country.

Children under five years of age, regardless of gender, have access to free health care at public hospitals and clinics.

These days, children are seen loitering about in every corner of the city and major streets causing vehicular and human traffic just to make earns meet. Where are the parents of these young ones? Children of school going age are used as beggars on highways in the mercy of the sun; most of whom are seen escorting the physically disabled while their colleagues are enrolled in schools. Most children as young as six to ten years are forced into hard labour by carrying heavy loads as porters in markets and lorry parks through no fault of theirs.

Under the Children’s Act of 1998, labour is exploitative of a child if it deprives him / her of education, development or health. The Act further states that, no person should engage a child in night services.

Most house helps are physically molested and are not given the required treatments as they do for their biological children. House helps have some potentials in them that needed to be established so that they can rub shoulders with the fortunate ones in the society. They shouldn’t be treated as outcasts in the society. Even Jesus welcomes outcasts and feeds them.

Child labour is a bad practice because; every child has the same right under the Act and must therefore be given all the rights that accord him or her.

Within the limits of its resources, the government is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of children, although its efforts were constrained by its limited financial and logistical resources.

The government continues to implement the Education Sector Plan (ESP) which provides for free universal primary school education until 2015.

Education is compulsory through Primary and Junior High School. Despite the constitutional provision for "free compulsory and universal basic education," Government also provides free uniforms and books.

Help to work towards a day when the rights of every child will be respected; for these are the holders of this nation. Children who are victims of this illicit practice must report to nearest authorities in their communities.