Accra, Ghana, November 01, 2026: Children in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality of the Western Region have called on local authorities to improve school infrastructure, sanitation, road safety and access to essential public services, saying existing conditions are affecting their education, health and safety.
The demands were raised during a moot Children's Parliament organised in the municipality, where young participants debated challenges confronting children in their schools and communities.
Among their concerns were poorly maintained school washrooms, inadequate drinking water, limited cafeteria facilities, insufficient classroom space and concerns about the quality and quantity of meals provided under the School Feeding Programme.
They also called for scholarship opportunities for academically gifted children from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as improved access to disability-friendly facilities in schools.
Beyond the classroom, the children raised concerns about poor roads, non-functioning streetlights, flooding during the rainy season, noise pollution and the absence of police stations in some communities.
They said these conditions could make everyday activities, including travelling to and from school, difficult and unsafe.
The parliamentary session was led by Speaker Precious Aseidu Tetteh, with Michael Mercy Osam-Pinako serving as Majority Leader and Eugenia Quayson as Minority Leader.
Child development advocate Dr Kwame Sakyi called for children to be actively involved in policymaking, arguing that their participation would help authorities identify gaps in policies and programmes intended to protect and promote their welfare.
Speaking at the programme, he said children's participation was both a right and an important way of ensuring that policies reflected their lived experiences.
Dr Sakyi also noted that children aged five to 17 had identified other concerns, including water pollution, illegal mining, unsafe roads, inadequate streetlights and limited recreational facilities, through drawings and creative submissions.
He said some of these issues had not received sufficient attention during the revision of Ghana's Early Childhood Development Policy.
The Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, Fiifi Buckman, commended the children for expressing their concerns and aspirations. He pledged to continue engaging them and facilitate a visit to Parliament to give them first-hand exposure to legislative proceedings.
Presiding Member of the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly, Musah Adamu, also emphasised the importance of giving children meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
He said the Children's Parliament provided a practical introduction to democracy, leadership, debate, accountability and civic responsibility.
The initiative is being implemented by the Centre for Learning and Childhood Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection under the EPIC project.
The programme brings together children aged 13 to 17 to examine early childhood development plans in five districts and identify gaps requiring attention, including issues relating to homelessness and teenage pregnancy.
The Effia-Kwesimintsim Children's Parliament is expected to reconvene on October 30, 2027.
