Central Region records 1,203 child maintenance cases in 2012

The Central Regional office of the Department of Social Welfare last year recorded a total of 1,203 child maintenance cases in the region.

Out of the figure, 860 were handled at the departmental level whiles the rest 343 were sent to the family tribunal for redress.

Mr. Robert Asiamah, Regional Programmes Manager of the Department, made this known to the GNA in an interview in Cape Coast on Thursday,

He said from January to March this year,  the Department  recorded a total of  81child maintenance cases whiles  72 cases of adoptions have  also been made.

Touching on the number of day care centres in the region, the Programmes Manager expressed worry that the Department has not been able to keep proper records on the number of  centres operating in the region, but  said that some  of them  were operating without valid license.

Mr Asiamah said the Department was facing undue competition from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support unit (DOVVSU), adding staff of the Department are trained to do in-depth investigations,   which at times delay  cases, as a result people prefer to send their cases to DOVVSU for quick solution.

Mr. Asiamah said the Department was also saddled with the problem of inadequate staffing as well as the lackadaisical attitude of staff towards work.

He said that Government can provide the needed incentives, but if workers do not change their attitude, things will remain the same.

Mr Asiamah said the Department faces financial problems and lack of computers and other logistics.

He advised parents to be alive to their parental responsibilities and invest in the education of their children.

Source: GNA