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Missing Children Ghana, a non-governmental organization (NGO), is calling on the public to assist in reuniting 55 lost and found children currently residing in orphanages in the Greater Accra and Central regions.
The children were placed in orphanages by the Department of Social Welfare after being found missing from home by good Samaritans. Despite efforts by the orphanage staff and officers of the Social Welfare Department to reunite them with their families, many were unable to provide sufficient details to aid in their reunion, a statement from the NGO to the Ghana News Agency said.
Speaking on the ongoing investigation, Ms. Regina Asamoah, the Founder of Missing Children Ghana, said the emotional journey of reaching out to the families of the children, which began in September 2024, saw the children going through pain and trauma in search of their families. “It was incredibly emotional and heart-wrenching. Seeing these children in tears, recounting the pain of being separated from their families – some of their stories will break your heart,” she said.
The children miss their homes, their parents, and their siblings. They long to go back to school and live the life they once knew.” The circumstances surrounding the children’s disappearance, she said, were as varied as the children themselves. ”Some simply got lost after being sent on errands, others fled from abusive homes, and tragically, some were victims of human trafficking.”
The 55 rescued, comprising 35 males and 20 females, range between ages three and 23 years. They have been missing for varying lengths of time, with some missing since 2009, and the most recent case reported in 2024, Ms. Asamoah said. Since May 2021, Missing Children Ghana has been tirelessly working to raise awareness of the plight of children stuck in orphanages.
Through its flagship initiative, the Missing Children Documentary Series, more than 300 children and adults have been reunited with their families. “We remain hopeful that, with the support of the public, our partners and key stakeholders, we can bring these 55 children home to their families. We urge the public to share the flyer of these children far and wide so we can accelerate their reunification. These children have waited far too long,” Ms. Asamoah appealed.
She extended an open invitation to families who recognized the children or had any information to contact the NGO on 0594594662 or 0501222665 for assistance with the reunification process. The Department of Social Welfare, she said, would facilitate the process in the jurisdiction where each child was found.
Ms. Asamoah expressed appreciation to organizations that continued to support the work of Missing Children Ghana, including the Ghana Police Service, Social Welfare, the Africa Missing Children Network, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Ghana Italian Women Association, IPMC, Zonda Tec Ghana Limited, Apau-Asante Outreach Savers International, and the Family-Based Care Alliance. “We could not do this without the support of our partners. Together, we are making progress in ensuring that these children are reunited with their loved ones and that no child remains lost forever.”
Source: GNA
