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The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has officially referred a disturbing viral video showing a young child being forced by a group of men to smoke a cigarette to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for swift action.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 21, the Ministry described the incident as a blatant case of child endangerment, stressing that exposing a child to harmful substances is abusive and violates the child’s rights and dignity. The Ministry noted that such conduct is punishable under Ghanaian law.
It further highlighted that the act contravenes the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), which mandates the protection of children from physical, psychological, and moral harm. The incident, the Ministry added, undermines the principles outlined in the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy, which focuses on ensuring the healthy and safe development of children.
The Ministry condemned the behaviour in strong terms and called on parents, caregivers, guardians, and the general public to uphold their duty to protect children from harm. It urged the police to expedite their investigations and ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted without delay.
As the world approaches the conclusion of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the Ministry also appealed to families, religious groups, traditional leaders, and civil society organisations to intensify efforts to safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
“The protection of the rights and dignity of children is a collective responsibility,” the Ministry emphasized.
