Department of Social Welfare to Prosecute Abuses

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Parent Category: Education & Training

Category: Youth News

Created on Sunday, 19 April 2009 00:00

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Department of Social Welfare to Prosecute Abuses

By Fiifi Koomson

The Department of Social Welfare says it is taking steps to prosecute the directors of certain orphanages.

The move, according to the department, has become necessary as it has been revealed that many of the orphanages are flouting regulations.

Following this the department says it has suspended the registration of new orphanages. According to officials, many orphanages in the country, as reported by Myjoyonline Wednesday, 15 April 2009, have for years received and fostered children whose identities and families are known; a situation which it says is illegal. For example, as many as 28 of the 32 children picked from the Peace and Love Orphanage at Adenta belonging to actress Grace Omaboe, the report added, have known families.

The Peace and Love Orphanage was closed down in February 2009 by the Department of Social Welfare, following the discovery of alleged sexual abuses involving children, some as young as six months.

The department says it is now concentrating on ensuring that existing orphanages and foster homes comply with regulations. The coordinator of the Care Reform Initiative at the Department of Social Welfare Helena Obeng Asamoah in an interview with Joy News said the move has become necessary because some of the orphanages have been flouting regulations.

The coordinator hinted that some orphanages are currently being investigated for certain suspicious activities.

Credit Myjoyonline.com