Welfare of children is core in government policies

By Rebecca Kwei
THE First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, has said the welfare of children is at the heart of the government’s policies.
Consequently, the government has introduced relief measures such as capitation grant, school feeding programme, free bus rides for schoolchildren to enable them to have access to education, stay in school and be productive citizens in future.
Mrs Kufuor made these comments when the wife of United Nations Secretary-General, Mrs Ban Soon-Taek, called on her at her office in Accra.
Mrs Ban was in the country with her husband, Ban Ki-moon, to attend the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII).
The First Lady said the promotion of universal basic education and the halving of illiteracy by 2015 was very high on the agenda of the government.
Among Mrs Ban’s entourage were officials from UNICEF. Mrs Kufuor expressed appreciation to UNICEF for its contribution to the development of children in Ghana.
Mrs Ban commended the First Lady for the works she had been doing in the area of women and children. She was hopeful that the recommendations of UNCTAD XII would be put to good use for the benefit of all.
The two ladies later visited the Osu Children’s Home where they interacted with the children. They visited the children’s department as well as the E-learning centre of Otabil House, a two-storey building at the home for males.
Mrs Kufuor and Mrs Ban commended the staff for their work and advised the children to be of good behaviour.
UNICEF presented items including rice, corn soya blend and drinks to the home.
In another development, the Princess of Thailand, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who is also attending the UNCTAD XII, also paid a courtesy call on the First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor.
Mrs Kufuor expressed her conviction that education is the key to development. She said she founded the Mother and Child Foundation, a non-profit making organisation working on community development through self-help projects, to target young mothers and children in deprived communities.
She said the foundation had also tried to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS through the provision of anti-retrovirals and lectures to reduce stigmatisation. She mentioned lack of funds and equipment as some of the major challenges the foundation had to grapple with.
Princess Maha briefed the First Lady on some of the projects she was undertaking in Thailand and the challenges facing her.
Princess Maha who runs several philanthropic organisations and foundations, has developed special interest in agricultural extension to improve schoolchildren’s nutritional needs and support education as well as mother and child care.
She also helps the handicapped to use information technology to develop independent living and learning skills.
The First Lady and Princess Maha exchanged gifts.