The Eastern Regional Department of Social Welfare through an order of the Koforidua Circuit Court has closed down ”the Eye of the Lord Day Care Centre” at Dzatsui in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region for operating an orphanage at the centre without legal backing.
According to the Regional Head for Child Rights Promotion and Protection at the Department of Social Welfare, Sarah Kwao, the ”Eye of the Lord Day Care Centre” was only licensed by her outfit to operate a Day care centre.
She said the owner of the Centre illegally attached the orphanage to the Center without permission.
She further stated that investigations conducted by the Department revealed that the children admitted at the orphanage are not orphans.
Madam Kwao revealed that the Proprietor of the Centre, Samuel Kwapong Darko, who is visually impaired, conspired with parents of the children to illegally operate the so called orphanage in order to use it as a conduit to solicit funds from unsuspected donors to enrich themselves.
When Mr Darko got wind that officials of the Social welfare were going to storm the centre to close it down, he quickly transferred some of the children to another school he has allegedly opened which is yet to be identified.
However, the remaining children who were found at the Centre by the officials of the Social Welfare were registered and handed over to their parents.
