Since 2012 Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection registered 42 residential homes or orphanages - Nana Oye Lithur

Since 2012, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection has registered 42 residential homes or orphanages with a police station in their local area command. 

The Minister, Nana Oye Lithur says registering the homes with the police provides an essential support base for the homes and the protection of the children in them. 

She said this when she and officials from her Ministry appeared before the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday September 16. 

Mrs. Lithur said by having first-hand information about the nature of the home and its location, the police can be able to respond quickly to any threat to the security
of the children. 

Radio Ghana’s Parliamentary Correspondent, Augustus Acquire reports that the Minister of Gender, was reacting to findings in the performance report on regulation of Residential Homes for Children (Orphanages) by the Department Of Social Welfare. 

The report indicated that out of 85 private homes in four regions, 82 operated without the appropriate license. 

Mrs. Lithur said the Department of Social Welfare closed down 81 homes between 2010 and
February this year. 

She told the PAC that the process had begun for the introduction of new laws on adoption and foster care.

Alhaji Ahmed Yakubu said food distribution still remains a challenge to the Ministry. 

He however assured the PAC that the ministry is doing all it can to ensure Ghana produces all of its food crops especially rice by 2017. 

The Chief Director of the Ministry Morris Seidu said the inability of government to promptly pay distributers for the purchase of
fertilizer is negatively affecting the fertilizer use by farmers. 

He said this year for instance, fertilizers are not being subsidized for farmers.

GBC