Mr Peter Biya Yah, the Bono Regional Director of the Social Welfare Department says the lack of ‘rescue shelter’ is impeding efforts to tackle the growing child streetiest and alms begging in the region.
He emphasized that the government alone could however not shoulder the responsibility of providing shelter for rescued children and appealed for support from wealthy individuals, philanthropic organizations and corporate and religious bodies to do so.
Mr Yah made the appeal at the launch of “30 Days of Activism Against Domestic Violence” in Sunyani.
The Bono Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) is implementing the campaign to control domestic violence and human rights abuses in the region.
Mr Yah expressed worry that child streetiest and alms begging had become common in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital nowadays, becoming worse at the Nana Bosoma Central Market and the Sunyani Business District enclave.
He therefore indicated that the Department of Welfare and DOVVSU ought to be well resourced to position them well to tackle gender-based violence too, saying for instance the lack of vehicles was making it difficult for DOVVSU personnel in the region to follow-up on reported cases, rescue victims and prosecute perpetrators.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Beatrice Korsah, Bono Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU, explained that the campaign would be extended with intensified public education at markets, lorry terminals, churches and mosques and other public gatherings.
She said gender-based violence was becoming alarming in the region, with victims, mostly women, experiencing serious human rights abuses and undergoing emotional and physical pains.
DSP Korsah appealed to the public to support the campaign by reporting cases to either the social welfare or DOVVSU so that the victims could be rescued from the worst form of human rights abuses.
GNA
