Traditional leaders in the Northern Region have undergone specialised training aimed at strengthening child and adolescent protection systems across their communities.
The one-day programme brought together members and representatives of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs to equip them with practical skills and tools to prevent, identify, and respond to child protection violations.
Key areas covered included mental health and psychosocial support, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, positive parenting, adolescent welfare, engagement of men and boys, and menstrual hygiene management.
The training was organised by the Department of Community Development in collaboration with the Departments of Children and Social Welfare, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking at the session in Tamale, the Northern Regional Director of the Department of Community Development, Madam Rashidatu Mohammed, said the initiative also aimed to strengthen referral systems and improve coordination among stakeholders responsible for child welfare.
She expressed concern over persistent challenges such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, sexual and gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, and limited access to education in the region.
Madam Mohammed urged chiefs to use their influential positions as community gatekeepers to support the prevention and reporting of abuse, while also encouraging parents to adopt positive parenting practices.
The Northern Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Madam Annunciata Mary Anglaaere, also outlined the formal referral pathways for handling reported cases, noting that serious offences are escalated to law enforcement agencies for action.
She assured the public that the system is designed to protect vulnerable persons while ensuring due legal processes are followed.
A representative of the Gulkpe Naa, Mohammed Rasheed Abdulai, stressed that child protection is a shared responsibility among families, schools, and traditional authorities, urging parents to pay closer attention to their children’s behaviour and education.
Participants are expected to apply the knowledge gained to improve child welfare, promote positive parenting, and ensure timely reporting of protection cases within their communities.
