By: Ilyasa Baa
Parents in Makeni have been warned and advised in their interests to allow their children to grow as children and focus on the Free Quality Education and the 22% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the government has been dedicating to the education of children.
Addressing parents after the release of eight children in Makeni, the Minister of Social Welfare, Madam Bendu Dasama Kamara said the welfare of children is the concern of the Ministry as well as President Dr Julius Maada Bio who in his wisdom she said has provided opportunities for children to prosper. She said parents have the responsibility to look after their children to become responsible citizens instead of joining ill-motivated people to cause public unrest.
She noted that it took some time for the children to be reunited with their families because the Ministry wanted to ensure that they were released to their rightful parents or guardians. She said parents should be good examples for the children to emulate noting that they should not use invectives or portray negativity in the presence of their children. ‘ “You have to give your child good training no matter how poor you are”, the Minister advised. She added that children are the future “osusu”
(bank) that will take care of their parents if given the right training.
Madam Bendu Dasama Kamara commended the Legal Aid Board for their role towards children in conflict with the law.
The Welfare Officer, Bombali District, Yayah Kargbo said the four boys and four girls who returned to Makeni were in good health. He noted that some of them were caught hiding in marketplaces during the curfew that was imposed by the Vice President as a preventive measure to quell the high spate of violence.
The Juvenile and Children’s Outreach Person at the Legal Aid Board, Victor Tutu Rogers has reechoed that parents should ensure their children don’t take part in demonstrations or political violence.
It could be recalled that twenty-four children, seventeen boys and seven girls were arrested and taken to Freetown following August 10 unrest in opposition strongholds.
The 2018 Manifesto of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) dedicates 70% to vulnerable groups including women and children of Sierra Leone.
