A Catholic Nun working in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi in the West African Country of Ghana has called for the promotion of the welfare of children as well as protecting them from all forms of abuse and harm.
Sr. Olivia Umoh, DC, Director of Safe-Child Advocacy, a street Children Project of the Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese made the call at a 3- day workshop on safeguarding and protection of children under the auspices of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, Afram Plains in Ghana’s Eastern Region.
She noted, safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable Adults was a deliberate and conscious action should be taken to promote the welfare of children who are gifts from God.
As the main resource person at the workshop, Sr. Umoh said, “They ought to be protected from abuse and maltreatment and the Catholic Church is ready to give them that protection in whichever way it can.” She noted that it was the responsibility of all persons to ensure that, children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care.
She told Participants mainly pastoral agents not to think of abuse as far away from them, stating, “Abuse is around you. If you are not seeing means you are not looking.” In addition, she asked the participant to encourage people not to look on when people are being abused, asking them to speak out and intervene.
She also advised them to desist from solving issues of abuse in the homes and churches and rather refer those acts of abuse to the appropriate statutory bodies to be handled properly.
Rev. Fr. Anthony Abban, a Child Protection Officer of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi who also facilitated the workshop, said it was incumbent on all to take responsible actions to enable all children and young people to have the best in life.
This, he said would make them feel loved and belonging to a family, and the society as a whole.
The July 5 to 7 workshop was aimed at empowering pastoral agents of the Catholic Vicariate of Donkorkrom on how to safeguard and protect children and vulnerable in the society. It was a forum to create awareness and the need to safeguard and Protect children and vulnerable Adults.
The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, the Apostolic Vicar of the Donkorkrom Catholic Vicariate, who was impressed about the programme, appealed to his pastoral agents to put into practice what they have come to learn in their various apostolate and ministries.
“The church plays a major role in the lives of many children and young people. This means safeguarding must be a key consideration to all of us,” he said.
Participants were taken through acts that constitute abuse or violence against children and vulnerable Adults, sexualized violence, the legal framework which supports and formulation of Child Protection Policy for the vicariate.
Participants expressed satisfaction with programme and found it meaningful for effective pastoral ministry.
