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School Children in Gomoa West have said it was about time policy makers enforced laws that sought to prevent the exploitation and abuse of children.

They stated that people who went contrary to the Laws and Act that protected children, must be severely punished without fear or favour, to serve as deterrent to others.

The children made the call at an advocacy meeting between them, policy makers and the media held at Apam in the Gomoa West District.

It gave them the opportunity to express their concerns and interact with duty bearers to influence positive change in policies, to promote safe environment for children.

It was organized by International Needs Ghana, a Non-governmental Organization that promotes the welfare of children, and had “Promoting Enhanced Safe and Protective Environment for Children (PESPEC),” as its theme.

The PESPEC is sponsored by the European Union (EU), and it is implemented by the NGO in the Effutu Municipality, Gomoa East and West districts, because of the numerous cases of child abuse and exploitation in those areas.

Mr. Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, the Gomoa West District Chief Executive, emphasized the need for policy makers to help develop and implement policies that sought to prevent the exploitation and abuse of children.

Mr. Aidoo-Mensah said children were the most marginalized in society due to their inability to defend their rights whenever they were in difficulties, and for that reason, all hands must be on deck to collaborate with International Needs Ghana to create an enabling environment for children to live in.

He commended the NGO for selecting the Gomoa West as one of the areas to execute their programmes, geared towards improving the livelihood of children and women.

He said as efforts were being made by the International Needs Ghana, the Assembly, policy makers and other stakeholders, to help the children to achieve their ambitions in the future, there was the need for the children to also take their education very seriously.

The DCE urged them to desist from activities that would prevent them from achieving their dreams, and mentioned peer-pressure, pre-marital sex and absenteeism from school, as some of the acts they should desist from.

Mr. Peter Bright Amankrah, Gomoa West District Director of the Ghana Education Service, commended government for putting in place initiatives and interventions for quality education for children.

Mr Amankrah, however, stressed the need to identify challenges and gaps in education service delivery, from the perspectives of community members, pupils and service providers.

'We have to play a complimentary role to create an enabling and conducive environment for our children to have the best of education', he added.

Mr. Pius Teye Narh, Programme Manager of Child Right, Mr. Ben Narh, Gomoa West Social Welfare Director, Mr John Amoah the District CHARAJ Officer, and Mr. Clement Acquaye, Gomoa West Presiding Member, were among personalities who responded to issues raised by the children.