By Daniel Bampoe
The Member of Parliament for Suhum Constituency in the Eastern Region, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa, has announced that the Suhum Municipality will host two major child protection engagements in August and October 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to combat child trafficking, child abuse, teenage pregnancy, drug and substance abuse, and parental neglect.
According to the MP, the programmes are a continuation of a partnership between his office, the International Justice Mission (IJM), UNICEF, Parliament and other development partners aimed at strengthening child protection systems within the municipality.
The latest initiatives follow a successful two-day stakeholder engagement organised by IJM in Suhum in July, which brought together chiefs, queen mothers, assembly members, religious leaders, Imams, heads of departments and other stakeholders to discuss the growing threats facing children.
Frank Asiedu Bekoe explained to that the July dialogue identified parental irresponsibility as one of the leading factors contributing to child abuse, child trafficking, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse among young people.
Protozoa made these know during a church visitation tour in his constituency on Sunday where he explained to the congregations the rational behind the two major events.
He noted that participants agreed that many parents are failing to play active roles in the upbringing of their children, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and other social vices.
He stressed that although government institutions, schools and religious bodies all have responsibilities, protecting children begins in the home.
“Some parents are not taking responsibility for the upbringing of their children. They may spend money on other activities but fail to provide the necessary care, guidance and support their children need. Child protection starts from the home,” he said.
The Suhum MP disclosed that the first major event will take place in the last week of August, when the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)—the global organization of national parliaments—will visit Suhum to engage stakeholders on child protection issues.
The programme is expected to bring together community leaders and development partners to better understand the municipality’s challenges and explore international support for child welfare interventions.
He attributed the selection of Suhum to his active role in Parliament on child protection issues, particularly through committee work and oversight engagements.
In October, the International Justice Mission will return to Suhum to facilitate the formation of Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs) across selected communities.
The committees will comprise assembly members, chiefs, pastors, Imams, political leaders and other community representatives who will receive training on child protection and serve as focal persons for safeguarding children’s rights.
According to Asiedu Bekoe, the committees will be officially introduced to their respective communities after undergoing training sponsored by IJM, enabling residents to identify and work with local child protection advocates.
The MP said the initiative is designed to promote preventive rather than reactive measures by educating parents and communities on their responsibilities towards children.
He believes that strengthening responsible parenting will significantly reduce cases of teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS infections among young people, child trafficking, child abuse and drug addiction.
“If parents are able to train their children properly and children are free to discuss their challenges with their parents, many of these social problems will reduce. Parents must create an environment where their children can confide in them without fear,” he stated.
He maintained that while infrastructure development remains important, investing in human development, particularly the protection and proper upbringing of children, is equally critical to the future of the municipality.
Touching on constituency development, Asiedu Bekoe also announced progress on the construction of the Suhum Astroturf, revealing that the contract has already been awarded through funding from his Common Fund allocation and other sources.
He disclosed that work is expected to commence soon after consultations with the Municipal Chief Executive to agree on an appropriate date for the sod-cutting ceremony.
The MP emphasized that he believes in working collaboratively with the Municipal Assembly to accelerate development projects rather than engaging in unnecessary political confrontations.
“I am not one of those Members of Parliament who antagonise Municipal Chief Executives. We must work together for the development of Suhum,” he said.
The two upcoming child protection programmes are expected to further strengthen collaboration among Parliament, international development organisations, traditional authorities, religious institutions and community leaders in promoting the rights, welfare and protection of children across the Suhum Municipality.
