Assin Fosu: The Central Regional Department of Gender has trained 15 male facilitators to nurture and guide adolescent boys in the Assin Fosu Municipality through the Department’s boys’ clubs. These facilitators, primarily assembly members, have been educated on critical issues such as child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, children’s rights, sexual and reproductive health, and sexually transmitted infections. This training aims to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
According to Ghana News Agency, these ‘Safe Spaces’ clubs are designed to educate and train boys aged 11 to 18 on their rights, the laws, and the dangers associated with common social vices, encouraging them to live responsibly. The clubs also focus on the boys’ education, monitoring their progress over time. The Department plans to establish three more safe spaces in the Assin Fosu Municipality, having already set up a few in Cape Coast and Elmina. This initiative is funded by the UNFPA and technically supported by the Central Regional Coordinating Council.
Madam Richlove Amamoo (Mama Awotsu Adzagba II), the Regional Head of the Department of Gender, highlighted the high incidence of rape and defilement in the region and stressed the importance of educating men and boys, who are often the main perpetrators. She noted that adolescent boys need education on legal consequences to reduce cases of adolescent pregnancy, defilement, rape, and related vices in the region. She expressed concern about boys as young as 14 having multiple sexual partners, citing a case in Elmina involving a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl living together as partners.
Madam Amamoo also raised concerns about single parenting and parental neglect, attributing these issues to many social vices in the area. She urged parents to pay attention to their children and take good care of them. Beyond education and training, she mentioned that members of the spaces are often first considered for scholarships and other opportunities and encouraged young boys in the selected communities to join.
The Department plans to train 50 traditional leaders to support and nurture the clubs. Madam Amamoo appealed to stakeholders, including traditional leaders, parents, and NGOs, to collaborate with the Department to ensure a bright future for the children.
Mr. Martin Datsomor, a principal investigator with the Central Regional Office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), emphasized that human rights are not a foreign concept and must be respected. He reminded parents of their duties, including providing education, good health, and shelter for their children, citing the Children’s Act and other relevant legislation.
Mr. Ruben Maxwell Bannerman, Registrar of the Effutuakwa Traditional Council, urged support for communities in response to the rising cases of waywardness. Mr. Issah Abdulai, Assembly Member for Abesewa Zongo New Town, pledged his commitment to the club and emphasized that while children have rights, adults must guide them to become responsible individuals to help build the nation.