CHILDREN IN DIFFICULT CHILDREN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES CIRCUMSTANCES

Nana Araba Apt, MSW PhDNana Araba Apt, MSW PhD

Professor and Academic DeanProfessor and Academic Dean

Ashesi University CollegeAshesi University Collegewww.ashesi.edu.gh

The State of Social Services in The State of Social Services in GhanaGhana

The Department of Social Welfare (DSW) is an integral part of the Ministry of Manpower Youth and Employment (MMYE) .

Established in 1950 to coordinate and facilitate welfare services In Ghana and provide a link with international social services.

FunctionsFunctionsFunctions of the Ministry include policy Functions of the Ministry include policy formulation.formulation.

The Department of Social Welfare works in The Department of Social Welfare works in partnership with Civil Society Organizations (CSO) partnership with Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and other state agencies in providing material and other state agencies in providing material and advisory assistance to vulnerable groups in and advisory assistance to vulnerable groups in communities throughout the country.communities throughout the country.

Programmes Programmes

In implementing its mandate the department In implementing its mandate the department administers three core programmes for administers three core programmes for empowering vulnerable and excluded persons.empowering vulnerable and excluded persons.

Community-Based Rehabilitation Programmes Community-Based Rehabilitation Programmes (CBR)(CBR)

Child Rights Protection ProgrammesChild Rights Protection Programmes

Justice Administration ProgrammesJustice Administration Programmes

Demographical Features Demographical Features Relating to ChildrenRelating to Children

Children under age 15 continue to account for Children under age 15 continue to account for about half the population about half the population

The mean family size has dropped from 5.5 in The mean family size has dropped from 5.5 in 1984 to 4.7 1984 to 4.7

Mean family size is larger for rural women than Mean family size is larger for rural women than urban women i.e. 5.6 compared to 4.7 for urban urban women i.e. 5.6 compared to 4.7 for urban womenwomen

Family SizeFamily Size

Younger professional males favour smaller Younger professional males favour smaller families.families.

The higher the educational status of a woman, The higher the educational status of a woman, the smaller the family size.the smaller the family size.

Educated /professional men and women are Educated /professional men and women are therefore more likely to favour smaller families therefore more likely to favour smaller families and take on the responsibilities for children’s and take on the responsibilities for children’s welfare. welfare.

Children in Difficult Children in Difficult CircumstancesCircumstances

Child poverty is a manifestation of the poverty of Child poverty is a manifestation of the poverty of women especially.women especially.

Female poverty entails further deprivations that Female poverty entails further deprivations that become obvious in children's significant levels of become obvious in children's significant levels of malnutrition and infant mortality. In times of malnutrition and infant mortality. In times of crisis, families may withdraw their children from crisis, families may withdraw their children from school to save on costs and for extra labour .school to save on costs and for extra labour .

Younger children, most especially girls, are Younger children, most especially girls, are socialized early into work and labour on the socialized early into work and labour on the streets and in households, missing out in streets and in households, missing out in education and skills training. education and skills training.

Children in Difficult Children in Difficult CircumstancesCircumstances

Girls are typically withdrawn from formal Girls are typically withdrawn from formal education before boys. education before boys.

A growing number of young children are A growing number of young children are vulnerable to exclusion as they are denied their vulnerable to exclusion as they are denied their basic rights due to abandonment or orphanhood basic rights due to abandonment or orphanhood early in life.early in life.

Among the youth also many are driven by poverty Among the youth also many are driven by poverty to migrate to cities and large towns to fend for to migrate to cities and large towns to fend for themselves leaving them on the margins of society themselves leaving them on the margins of society without education, basic health care and without education, basic health care and employable skills. employable skills.

The national OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable The national OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) policy document estimates that the Children) policy document estimates that the number of OVCs is over 170,000.number of OVCs is over 170,000.

Child LabourChild Labour

Child labour has emerged in Ghana as a major Child labour has emerged in Ghana as a major phenomenon exposing young people to considerable phenomenon exposing young people to considerable risk of accidents as defined under the ILO risk of accidents as defined under the ILO programme on the Worst Forms of Child Labour programme on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL). (WFCL).

Children engaged in hazardous work such as fishing, Children engaged in hazardous work such as fishing, commercial sex, ritual and domestic servitude have commercial sex, ritual and domestic servitude have been found to be among the sites of WFCL.been found to be among the sites of WFCL.

Some children are brought to urban centres as Some children are brought to urban centres as house helpers but run away from harsh conditions or house helpers but run away from harsh conditions or abuse and join the street trade where they suffer all abuse and join the street trade where they suffer all the accompanying risks of homelessness.the accompanying risks of homelessness.

Child LabourChild LabourMany young girls especially are locked into domestic Many young girls especially are locked into domestic servitude that in many cases does not provide servitude that in many cases does not provide adequately for their basic needs including formal adequately for their basic needs including formal education, employable skills training and basic health education, employable skills training and basic health care. care.

The plight of a large pool of out-of-school youth has The plight of a large pool of out-of-school youth has become a major concern in Ghana.become a major concern in Ghana.

Many migrate to the big cities and towns where they are Many migrate to the big cities and towns where they are relegated to the margins of society. Once there they are relegated to the margins of society. Once there they are easily recruited into anti-social activity characterized by easily recruited into anti-social activity characterized by crime and violence. crime and violence.

Many children leave school with little or no proficiency Many children leave school with little or no proficiency in literacy and numeracy, nor with employable skills.in literacy and numeracy, nor with employable skills.

In SummaryIn SummaryIn outcomes of many surveys on street children in In outcomes of many surveys on street children in Ghana, the low income status of the average Ghana, the low income status of the average Ghanaian family has come to the limelight as a Ghanaian family has come to the limelight as a major factor for change.major factor for change.

As a result of economic constraints, children have As a result of economic constraints, children have to work and earn money for their own upkeep and to work and earn money for their own upkeep and often to supplement family income.often to supplement family income.

The two inter-dependent issues of low incomes of The two inter-dependent issues of low incomes of families and child labour are both major social families and child labour are both major social problems facing Ghana todayproblems facing Ghana today

Poverty renders a family vulnerable to physical Poverty renders a family vulnerable to physical and emotional stress and this is inconducive to and emotional stress and this is inconducive to the social well-being of children.the social well-being of children.

ConclusionConclusion

If families could be assisted through meaningful If families could be assisted through meaningful social programmes to be responsible for their social programmes to be responsible for their childrenchildren

If families could be assisted through economic If families could be assisted through economic programmes to be able to meet some of their daily programmes to be able to meet some of their daily needs for survival and also meet their financial and needs for survival and also meet their financial and social obligations to their children;social obligations to their children;

There will be less children in the streets fending for There will be less children in the streets fending for themselvesthemselves

Less children in domestic servitudeLess children in domestic servitude

And less children in distress And less children in distress