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Child Rights International, an NGO committed to providing an ongoing voice for children and also reaffirming the faith of young people�s hope for a better future, is lamenting the country�s inability to be named in the first ten Child Friendly Countries, saying it raises questions about Ghana�s commitment towards children rights and the seemingly ineffectual role of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. Child-friendly government is �one that is making the maximum effort to meet its obligations to respect, protect and fulfill child rights and ensure child wellbeing.� Ghana was rated 29th. In a press statement issued in commemoration of International Human Rights Day, which felled yesterday the Executive Director of Child Rights International and also Chairman for the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, Mr. Bright Appiah, pointed out this latest ranking �is a dent on our human rights records as a nation considering the fact that Ghana was the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.� Below is a reproduction of the full statement issued by Mr. Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child Rights International. Press Release International Human Rights Day; Ghana Missing In The Most Child Friendly Nations In Africa ��We must put the best interests of children at the heart of all political and business decision-making and at the centre of our day-to-day behaviour and activities� We can build a world fit for children, if each of us do our part and take the wellbeing of children as our own responsibility.� ~ Kofi A. Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Children under 18 constitute 52% of the population. The population of children can be a blessing but also a potential curse. The extent to which government respect children and protect them from harm and abuse, and provide them with opportunities for a healthy and productive life has an impact both on the future of the children concerned and the future of the country. A healthy, well-fed and educated child population is a necessary foundation for a modern, productive and knowledge-based economy that can effectively participate in today�s globalised world. Similarly, the way we raise and treat our children at home and at school is critical for what they will be as adults and citizens. A child growing up in an environment where he sees his mother been beaten by the father, where girls are discriminated and excluded, where differing views and opinions are not tolerated, and where choices are not negotiated contributes to chaos and democratic disorder. Ghana being the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was missing in an index to measure progress being made by African countries as most friendly countries in Africa. Ghana was rated 29th and is among countries like Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Gabon, Mozambique, Togo, Zambia, Mauritania, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger as fairly Child Friendly Countries. Child-friendly government is �one that is making the maximum effort to meet its obligations to respect, protect and fulfill child rights and ensure child wellbeing.� This effort must reflect in the laws and policies that government adopts, as well as in its commitment to provide the basic needs of children. Analysis was made of governments� performances and rankings in terms of laying down the appropriate legal and policy frameworks for protection and provision for children in terms of their budgetary commitment and achievement of outcomes. The most Child Friendly Countries include Mauritius, Namibia, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria and Cape Verde. These countries according to the index put in place appropriate legal provisions to protect children against abuse and exploitation; they also allocated a relatively higher share of their budgets to provide for the basic needs of children. They resources were effectively used and the results reflected on children themselves. Ghana being an example in democratic principles in Africa deserves to give more attention to the development of children. Justice institutions have continuously failed children in the administration of absolute justice for all children in the country. Absolute justice is when matters concerned with a child victim are given preference over a mere prosecution of perpetrators. Political will of Government to allocate resources for the development of children is limited for example, 2006 government budget allocation was reduced from GHC 265,706.00 to GHC 48,000.00 in 2010 the budget for birth registration in the whole country. Department of Social Welfare and Ministry of Women and Children have continuously experienced sum allocation without specifying the percentage for child development. Ghana�s inability to be in the first ten countries raises question on our commitment towards children rights and faithfulness towards international instruments and the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. This dent our human rights records as a nation, therefore there is the need for government to take pragmatic efforts to increase budget allocation and create a platform for children to participate in development of issues in the country. Child rights forms part and parcel of human rights therefore all efforts must be made to bridge the gap between rights and reality. Child Rights International www.crighana.org [email protected] 0244406151 Signed Bright Appiah