Mrs Georgette Appiah-Kubi, the Berekum Municipal Coordinator of Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ghana Education Service, has called on the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to give equal attention to the needs of the boy-child.

She said there is also the need to promote the rights and welfare of boys.

She expressed worry that the needs, rights and welfare of boys were being neglected, saying boys also required equal attention, and encouragement to facilitate their proper upbringing and development in the society.

Madam Appiah-Kubi made the call when speaking at a forum to mark this year’s celebration of the International Day of the Boy Child, organised by the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Directorate at Senase in the Berekum Municipality on the theme: “Mental Health of the Boy-child”.

The Day is celebrated on May 16, each year to recognize the importance of boys’ well-being and the challenges they face, while also celebrating the positive aspects they bring to their communities and families.

Unlike the International Day of the Girl Child, the Day is not officially recognised by the United Nations (UN).

Prior to the forum, school children in the area undertook a clean-up exercise and held a procession through the principal streets of the Berekum township to create awareness about the celebration.

Mrs Appiah-Kubi expressed worry that boy-child education in the municipality was also dropping marginally, due to factors including substance abuse and the lack of support, saying “we have to at least give equal attention to boys too.”

She called on the Ghana Education Service to incorporate the celebration of the International Day of the Boy into its calendar.

Mr David Owusu Ansah, the Berekum Municipal Director of Education, commended the Unit for the celebration, saying that it would greatly help identify and tackle some challenges impeding boy-child education in the municipality.

He urged parents and families to draw closer and listen to the concerns of their boys, saying that would enable parents to detect early signs of substance abuse among the boys.