The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a powerful reminder that by 2050, four out of every ten children in the world will live in Africa — a demographic transformation that demands urgent, sustained investment in the continent’s youngest generation.
Marking this year’s Day of the African Child, UNICEF Ghana emphasised the profound implications of this shift, particularly for countries like Ghana, where children already constitute approximately 45% of the population.
“This Day of the African Child is more than just a commemoration; it’s a critical call to action,” said Mr Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Country Representative in Ghana.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise foundational learning, healthcare, nutrition, protection, digital inclusion, and job-readiness to equip African children not only to survive but to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.
“Africa’s future is global, and immediate, bold action from all of us is imperative,” Khogali added.
The Day of the African Child, observed annually on June 16, commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising, where South African students bravely protested educational inequalities under apartheid. It remains a potent symbol of resistance and a rallying point for the rights and welfare of African children.
UNICEF’s statement called on governments, communities, development partners, and individuals to renew their commitment to upholding the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which enshrines the fundamental rights of every child in 48 articles.
“The Day serves as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure every child, especially in Ghana, has access to quality education, healthcare, protection, dignity, and opportunity,” the statement read.
UNICEF reaffirmed that investing in Ghanaian children is not only critical for national progress but also integral to shaping the future of the African continent and the world at large.
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