The Supreme Court has rendered its verdict in response to an action brought forth by Child Rights International (CRI), a children’s advocacy group, against the government regarding the issue of Child Streetism. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, February 28, the panel of seven, chaired by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, dismissed the suit on grounds of improper invocation of the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Torkornoo, speaking on behalf of the panel, stated, “The Plaintiff’s (Child Rights International) action is dismissed for failing to properly invoke the jurisdiction of this Court.” The panel emphasized the necessity for proper legal procedures to be followed, with Justice Gabriel Pwamang adding, “Even though the Plaintiff had genuine grievances, your lawyers must come properly.”
The full judgment of the panel, which also includes Justice Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Justice Lovelace Avril Johnson, and Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, is ready according to reports from EIB Network Legal Affairs Correspondent Murtala Inusah.
Child Rights International had filed the suit seeking to enforce children’s rights to education and address the threat posed by child streetism. The suit aimed to compel the government to fulfill its obligations under the 1992 Constitution, particularly in protecting children from moral hazards and ensuring their access to education.
Among the demands made by CRI in its suit were declarations that the government’s failure to protect children against moral hazards and the current conditions of children living on the streets are inconsistent with the Constitution. Additionally, they sought orders directing the government to define penalties for families neglecting children’s rights, improve healthcare services for poor children on the streets, and address economic exploitation of children.
Despite the dismissal of the suit, the issue of child streetism remains a pressing concern in Ghana, prompting calls for concerted efforts from both the government and civil society to address the underlying causes and protect the rights of vulnerable children.