No law bans use of children in political campaign ads- Dadzie

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Parent Category: Our Country

Category: Politics

Created on Thursday, 27 September 2012 00:00

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27 September 2012

No law bans use of children in political campaign ads- Dadzie

Bright Appiah believes such ads are a violation of the rights of the children as enshrined in the constitution.

His criticisms follow recent political campaign ads in which children were clamouring for the free Senior High School being promised by the New Patriotic Party flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo.

Children were also used in the run- up to the 2008 election as well as the one before it.

Bright Appiah is convinced the children are often exploited in such adverts. He told Joy News the fundamental rights of children must be respected.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that these children may have been used with the consent of their parents, Appiah retorted parents do not have the sole authority to determine whether their children can be used for such ads.

He said the social welfare and other allied institutions must be involved in such decision.

But the Executive Secretary of the Advertising Associations of Ghana Mr. Francis Dadzie said there is no law that bans the use of children in any type of advert in Ghana.

He said the only concern as specified in the ethics of international advertising is exploiting the innocence of children and getting them to pressurize their parents to buy some products for them.

But the use of children in adverts cannot be banned, he insisted, explaining there are clearly defined roles children can be allowed to play in adverts.

“If there is a political party that has a product or service or benefit that is targeted at children, you have to use your daughter and not you, Dadzie told Joy News’s Dzifa Bampoh.

From: Myjoyonline.com| Nathan Gadugah