By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Jan.4, GNA – Missing Children Ghana has marked the festive season with an end-of-year celebration honouring families of reunited children with special needs to recognise their resilience, commitment, and care despite the challenges they face.

The organisation celebrated five families whose children, three girls and two boys, were successfully reunited with them after going missing between 2021 and 2024.

The children’s special needs contributed significantly to their disappearance, as they were unable to find their way home or provide accurate information to aid quick reunification.

Through sustained efforts by Missing Children Ghana, all five children were eventually located and reunited with their families.

In recognition of the long-term care responsibilities placed on the families, Ms Regina Asamoah, Founder of Missing Children Ghana, said her non-governmental organization had earlier provided financial support to some primary caregivers to help strengthen their small businesses and improve their capacity to care for their children.

As part of the Christmas festivities, the caregivers, mostly mothers, were also invited to the organisation’s office to share updates on the children’s wellbeing and receive food items and cash support to celebrate the season.

The celebration, held at the Missing Children Ghana Office, was supported by the Amazing Women of God and the Apau Asante Outreach Savers International.

Volunteers of Missing Children Ghana and members of the Amazing Women of God group were also present.

Ms Asamoah said the gathering served as a moment of thanksgiving for successful reunifications, child protection interventions, and an opportunity to reflect on post-reunification challenges and solutions.

During a sharing session, the mothers reflected on life before their children went missing, the reunification process, and the realities of caregiving afterwards.

Many highlighted persistent stigmatization from society, the emotional and financial strain of caring for children with special needs alongside other children, and limited access to resources.

Despite these challenges, the caregivers expressed gratitude for the progress they had made.

They also outlined specific needs that could enhance their caregiving capacity, including monthly financial support for medications, assistance with rent, a freezer to expand a water and ‘sobolo’ business, and capital to grow small-scale fruit businesses.

Addressing the families, Ms Asamoah commended the mothers for their dedication and perseverance and encouraged them to continue caring for their children with love and patience, while seeking support whenever they felt overwhelmed and desist from transferring frustration onto the children.

She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting families beyond reunification through its “Strengthening Families Beyond Reunification Project”, aimed at ensuring long-term stability and child protection.

Representatives from the Amazing Women of God urged the families not to lose hope, encouraging them to see their children as purposeful and uniquely gifted, with God-given talents that would manifest in due time.

Speaking on behalf of the volunteers, Ms Benedicta Molga encouraged caregivers to ignore negative societal comments and instead prioritise their children’s wellbeing, citing public figures who have successfully raised children with special needs despite criticism.

Missing Children Ghana presented hampers and cash donations to the families in appreciation of their unwavering care throughout the year.

Earlier in the festive season, Missing Children Ghana, in partnership with Nneka Youth Foundation and GJ Foods and More, also spread Christmas cheer to children at the Save Them Young Orphanage in Ashaiman and neighbouring communities.

Over 200 packs of food were served, alongside donations of rice, drinks, toiletries, detergents, and other essential cooking items to support the home.

All partners called for increased support for various orphanages to enable them to adequately care for the children under their responsibility.

The Save Them Young Orphanage currently houses over 60 children, including children with special needs.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba