Sandema: Right To Play Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, has renewed calls on parents, educators, and policymakers to prioritise play as a fundamental right of every child to enhance their holistic development and well-being. Ms. Hilda Ninfaa, Project Officer at Right To Play, stressed that play is a fundamental right of every child and emphasised the need to uphold such rights to build a better future.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms. Ninfaa stated, "Play is how children explore their world. It builds resilience, fosters creativity, strengthens social bonds, and nurtures essential life skills." She added, "It is a universal language-one that brings joy, promotes healing, relieves stress, and enhances overall well-being." Ms. Ninfaa made these remarks during the commemoration of the International Day of Play held in Sandema in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region.
The event was part of the implementation of the Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project, which aims to empower young women and girls through SRHR initiatives to advance gender equality and access to youth-friendly services. The SHARE project is being implemented in the Kassena-Nankana and Builsa North Municipalities, as well as the Bongo and Kassena-Nankana West Districts, by a consortium led by Right To Play, WaterAid Ghana, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), and FHI360, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.
The celebration brought together various stakeholders in education, including schoolchildren, teachers, and community leaders, to engage in play-based learning activities such as football and volleyball matches, sack and egg races, and a dancing competition. This year's celebration was held on the theme: "Choose Play Every Day."
The International Day of Play, instituted by the United Nations and celebrated globally on June 11, aims to raise awareness about the importance of play in children's lives, particularly in promoting learning, creativity, social inclusion, and mental health. Despite its importance, Ms. Ninfaa highlighted that many children are still denied this right due to poverty, conflict, disability, and the absence of safe, inclusive spaces to play, making the celebration not just a moment of joy but a call to action.
Ms. Ninfaa underscored the urgent need for stakeholders to integrate play into both formal and informal educational settings and to create environments where children, regardless of their background or circumstances, can play freely and safely. She called for the revitalisation of school sports, the promotion of community-based play initiatives, the reintroduction of physical education into school curricula, and the promotion of family play, among other measures.
