The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit by advocacy group, Child Rights International against the Attorney-General on child streetism.
The Plaintiff, Bright Appiah was seeking the Apex court to declare that the Government is in breach of Articles 15(1), (2), 13(1) and 35(4) of the 1992 Constitution for not ensuring that children receive special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards.
But on Wednesday, February 28, a seven-member panel of Justices presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo indicated in their judgment that the action was dismissed due to the failure of the plaintiff to properly invoke the jurisdiction of the court.
“It has to do with the way you came. The grievances are genuine, but your lawyers must come properly,” the Apex court added.
In the writ filed on March 3, Executive Director of Child Rights International, Bright Appiah indicated that child streetism posed threat to the nation’s security and urged the court to compel the Attorney-General, to resolve the ageless phenomenon.
Reliefs sought by Child Rights International included “an order directed at the government to define by law, penalties for family members, local government units and schools that did not guarantee the protection of rights of children in street situations.
“An order directed at the government to define by law penalties for child exploitation for begging or other forms of economic exploitation to punish all those who may try to benefit or ordered money from children’s work.
“An order directed at the government to improve the law on healthcare by defining by law, the provision of free primary health services to all poor children, children living in street situation or children in emergency situations.
“An order directed at the government to provide rules and procedures to be followed for the provision of free basic medical services to poor children, children in street situation or children in emergency situations and the agencies that could ask for this help on behalf of children.”