By: Missing Children News Desk
Missing Children Ghana (MCG) has presented a cash grant to three vulnerable families as part of its Strengthening Families Beyond Reunification project.
The cash grant will support the beneficiaries in starting an economic venture and help them take adequate care of their children.
Presenting the cash to the families at a brief ceremony in Accra, the Executive Director of Missing Children Ghana, Regina Asamoah, explained that MCG seeks that every child live and grow in a family and not go missing, trafficked, exploited or abused.
“The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child stipulates the rights of children and the need for children to enjoy these rights. It is the only way children will grow to become responsible adults. That is why at Missing Children Ghana, we believe that by strengthening families to be economically viable, children in these families can enjoy their childhood and not be subjected to hard labour, exploitation, trafficking and abuse,” she intimated.
She hopes that the cash support will go a long way to help alleviate the economic sufferings of the beneficiary families.
Strengthening Families Beyond Reunification Project
The Strengthening Families Project is an initiative by Missing Children Ghana that supports vulnerable families of reunited missing, trafficked, and exploited children.
The research-driven initiative has proven to be an excellent step in helping to build the economic prowess of mothers or guardians in taking care of these children.
Most of these families have had their children missing, trafficked, exploited or abused due to the harsh conditions at home.
On July 28, 2023, Missing Children Ghana signed a one-year memorandum of understanding with the Family Based Care Alliance (FaBCA) to support this initiative.
FaBCA will provide cash support every quarter for the selected families.
The primary source of beneficiaries are mothers or caregivers of the identified child.
Beneficiary families
Kofi Mensah Family
Kofi Mensah went missing from home for 14 years. He was found by Missing Children and featured in the maiden edition of the Missing Children Documentary Series premiered in 2021.
Two years after Kofi’s reunification, his family was selected as part of the first batch of families to benefit from the cash grant.
Receiving the grant, Kofi’s sister, Judith Adzaho Quarshie, promised to invest the money in her spaghetti business.
She decried how difficult life has been taking care of her sick father, Kofi, and her two children. She expressed gratitude to all for the cash grant and that it will alleviate the burden on her.
Mercy Akakpo Family
Mercy Akakpo went missing from home for 4 years. Mercy was found by Missing Children as a special need child. However, her family say she did not have that condition prior to her going missing.
According to her mother, kidnappers must have tampered with her daughter’s wellbeing and left her in that state because none of her children is a special need child.
Receiving the grant, the mother recounted how it has been a struggle to take care of her Mercy together with her other five children. Sadly, Mercy’s father had abandoned the family and Mercy’s mother had to work extra hard with limited resources to fend for all six children.
She was optimistic that the cash grant would help her purchase Mercy’s medicine which she takes daily to keep her stable. Also, she will invest part in her charcoal and pure water business.
Asana Abdul- Wahab Family
Asana Abdul-Wahab, a special needs child, went missing for 4 years. Her mother, a single one, had been traumatized since she went missing because Asana could not talk.
After two years of reunification, Fauziya Ibrahim is part of the benefiting families of Missing Children Ghana’s strengthening families beyond reunification project.
Receiving the grant, Asana’s mother, Fauziya Ibrahim, was overly grateful for the gesture and indicated that she was going to invest in her sobolo business. She will also use part to purchase medicine for her daughter.
Appeal
Meanwhile, Regina Asamoah has called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to support MCG’s projects.
Currently, we have four initiatives aimed at promoting and advancing children’s welfare. These are the Missing Children Documentary Series, Strengthening Families Beyond Reunification, Reading to End Violence against Boys and Girls, and Educational tours. These initiatives provide holistic development for children, she said.
She called on Corporate Ghana to partner with Missing Children Ghana as part of its corporate social responsibility to improve the lives of children in the country.
“We are open for collaboration and partnership in promoting children’s welfare” Regina Asamoah noted.
