Discipline must not become abuse in raising children – ARK Foundation

Dr Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, the founder of the Ark Foundation, has emphasized the importance of discipline in raising children, while cautioning against the line between discipline and abuse. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, she highlighted that discipline was crucial for raising responsible individuals, especially as young people needed guidance and boundaries during their formative years.

"Discipline is extremely necessary," she stated, asserting that it applied to both adults and children. However, she stressed that discipline should have clear boundaries and should never be used as a justification for violence or cruel treatment.

Dr Dwamena-Aboagye affirmed her advocacy for discipline, noting that its absence among children and adults could lead to serious societal consequences. Nevertheless, she cautioned that commitment to discipline must be balanced with a clear distinction between constructive correction and harmful or degrading behavior towards children.

She cautioned against increasingly severe and dangerous disciplinary methods, citing examples such as hitting children with household objects, locking them in rooms, or intentionally withholding food as clear indicators of abuse rather than discipline. Her remarks come amid JoyNews's preparation for an investigative documentary, titled "Hands That Hurt, Hands That Heal," which will delve into the issue of violent punishment against children in Ghana.

Produced in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, the documentary will examine the experiences of children subjected to abusive disciplinary methods, the systems in place to protect children, and the gaps that hinder effective protection efforts.