Zongo Junction demonstration raises child protection issues’
Story: Jasmine Arku
The Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), was enacted to reform and consolidate the law relating to children, to provide for the rights of the child, maintenance and adoption, regulate child labour and apprenticeship, for ancillary matters concerning children generally and to provide for related matters.
Sub-section One of the Welfare Principle in the Children’s Act indicate that the best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning a child, while Sub-section Two states that the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration by any court, person, institution or other body in any matter with a child.
The demonstration by some youth last Tuesday at the Madina Zongo Junction threw the area into chaos and students and pupils of the Faith Community Baptist Complex of Schools faced life-threatening situations when the police fired tear gas, rubber and live ammunition to disperse angry youth protesting the take-over of a parcel of land by the authorities of the school.
In the course of the event, some kiosks and food vending tables in the Zongo community were destroyed, while at the Faith Community Baptist Complex of Schools glass windows were shattered. The demonstrators threw stones at the nursery department while the children were reportedly having breakfast.
At a press conference to highlight child protection issues that emerged as a result of the demonstrations by angry youth protesting the take-over of a parcel of land by the Faith Community Baptist School Complex, the Executive Director of Child’s Rights International, Mr Bright Appiah said it was unfortunate that the action amounted to gross violation of the fundamental rights of the children.
He faulted the community, police and school authorities for failing to protect pupils and students of the Faith Community Baptist Complex School and Boyer University College during the demonstrations that took place at Madina Zongo Junction.
He said the events raised serious child protection issues which require examination and discussion.
He said, in the course of the event, the school authorities, teachers and the police failed to guarantee the children's right to protection and the society also failed to consider the interest of the children in the environment, adding that, the children, through no fault of theirs, were at the receiving end of neglect and abuse.
As a result, he said ongoing lessons were disrupted, while students writing their West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) had to end abruptly.
Mr Appiah stated that, the continuous disrespect for the rights of children further tarnished Ghana’s human rights records as the first country to ratify the convention on the rights of the child.
Therefore, he said, the matter was an issue that needed attention and urged Parliament to call on the Ministries of Interior and Education, and the Department of Social Welfare to investigate in order to guarantee children the respect that they deserved in the society.
Last Tuesday, the Madina Zongo Junction area was thrown into chaos when the police fired tear gas, rubber and live ammunition to disperse angry youth protesting the take-over of a parcel of land by the Faith Community Baptist Complex of Schools.
According to the demonstrators, the land was the only available space in the area for public activities, including political rallies, church crusades and Islamic festivities.
The clash resulted in the injury of eight people, including two policemen. However, the police managed to arrest 20 people who were allegedly involved in the incident and are currently before an Accra Circuit Court.
The Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), was enacted to reform and consolidate the law relating to children, to provide for the rights of the child, maintenance and adoption, regulate child labour and apprenticeship, for ancillary matters concerning children generally and to provide for related matters.
Sub-section One of the Welfare Principle in the Children’s Act indicate that the best interest of the child shall be paramount in any matter concerning a child, while Sub-section Two states that the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration by any court, person, institution or other body in any matter with a child.
The demonstration by some youth last Tuesday at the Madina Zongo Junction threw the area into chaos and students and pupils of the Faith Community Baptist Complex of Schools faced life-threatening situations when the police fired tear gas, rubber and live ammunition to disperse angry youth protesting the take-over of a parcel of land by the authorities of the school.
In the course of the event, some kiosks and food vending tables in the Zongo community were destroyed, while at the Faith Community Baptist Complex of Schools glass windows were shattered. The demonstrators threw stones at the nursery department while the children were reportedly having breakfast.
At a press conference to highlight child protection issues that emerged as a result of the demonstrations by angry youth protesting the take-over of a parcel of land by the Faith Community Baptist School Complex, the Executive Director of Child’s Rights International, Mr Bright Appiah said it was unfortunate that the action amounted to gross violation of the fundamental rights of the children.
He faulted the community, police and school authorities for failing to protect pupils and students of the Faith Community Baptist Complex School and Boyer University College during the demonstrations that took place at Madina Zongo Junction.
He said the events raised serious child protection issues which require examination and discussion.
He said, in the course of the event, the school authorities, teachers and the police failed to guarantee the children's right to protection and the society also failed to consider the interest of the children in the environment, adding that, the children, through no fault of theirs, were at the receiving end of neglect and abuse.
As a result, he said ongoing lessons were disrupted, while students writing their West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) had to end abruptly.
Mr Appiah stated that, the continuous disrespect for the rights of children further tarnished Ghana’s human rights records as the first country to ratify the convention on the rights of the child.
Therefore, he said, the matter was an issue that needed attention and urged Parliament to call on the Ministries of Interior and Education, and the Department of Social Welfare to investigate in order to guarantee children the respect that they deserved in the society.
Last Tuesday, the Madina Zongo Junction area was thrown into chaos when the police fired tear gas, rubber and live ammunition to disperse angry youth protesting the take-over of a parcel of land by the Faith Community Baptist Complex of Schools.
According to the demonstrators, the land was the only available space in the area for public activities, including political rallies, church crusades and Islamic festivities.
The clash resulted in the injury of eight people, including two policemen. However, the police managed to arrest 20 people who were allegedly involved in the incident and are currently before an Accra Circuit Court.
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