A/R: Wawase Advocacy of Youth Justice Project held, Media, Opinion Leaders urged to sensitize on juvenile delinquency
The Ghana Police Service through the Afigya Kwabre South District Police Command in the Ashanti Region is urging the general public particularly the Media and the Clergy to throw more light on the issue of delinquency associated with young people.
Speaking on the topic “Engaging At-Risk Youth to understand the consequences of going against the law, A method of shaping the lives of Young people for a better tomorrow”, the Afigya Kwabre South District Commander, DSP Nathan Apraku Yeboah disclosed that the surge rate of most of the cases reported were robbery, drug addicts and rapes or defilements and were mainly ages between 12 and 25 years.
DSP Nathan Apraku Yeboah continue urged parents to quick respond to issues affecting their wards, He also urged them to halt from scaring their children to keep mute especially with rape and defilement cases that involve families or relatives.
The young people’s forum was under the auspices of Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), a Youth-focused advocacy group that aimed to develop and empower young people in Ghana.
Addressing the participants, the Ashanti Regional Director of the YMCA, Mr Gabriel Ofori Appiah saids the youth justice program was embarked to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable youth who are at risk of offending or have offended the law, and improve their access to human rights.
According to him, petty stealing, unlawful entry, defilements, raping, drug abuse and alcoholism were mostly crimes that children of 12 to 25 years are at risk of offending each day.
Mr. Gabriel Ofori Appiah added that, the project which is scheduled to implement in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern and Volta Regions is partnered with YWCA/YMCA in Sweden and will develop lasting solutions to delinquencies and achieve sustainable gains for the youth.
Some of the children who attended the forum told Despite media Rexkin Ohene Boateng that the sensitization will not only go a long way to improve their Christian Life but will also keep them away from deviant acts which as a result will end them up in Prisons and untimely deaths.
story filed by Rexkin Ohene Boateng, Kumasi.