The First Lady has today formally accepted her appointment as the Patron of SOS Children’s Villages Ghana by SOS Board at a ceremony at SOS’ Tema Community Six Children’s Village.

In her acceptance speech, Rebecca Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the organization for the honour. 

She assured them she will do her best to bring to bear on her new role her decades of experience in working to improve the well-being of children, especially through her two Foundations.

Mrs Akufo-Addo said working with children “is her life’s passion” and her two foundations, Infanta Malaria Prevention and The Rebecca Foundations, have provided her with “the structure and focus to do even more for children.”

According to her, in the course of her work with children, she has seen pain, dejection, neglect and gross abuse of children

However, she noted she has seen hope, joy, recovery and a second chance given to a child because somebody stood to make a difference in the life of a child.

She also added that her experience has made her a firm believer in the adage that “it takes a village to raise a child” emphasizing that “a village that raises good children, becomes a great village”.

Mrs Akufo-Addo said “every child deserves a safe, loving environment in which to thrive” adding “every child has God-given talents that must be nurtured, to make their dreams come true.”

She entreated all Ghanaians to do whatever is needed to help raise great children because our country will be made great by these great children and it will be a win for us all.

The First Lady commended the board, management, staff, and the mothers for their selfless dedication to the cause of children and also encouraged the children, to learn hard, be diligent, believe in themselves, live their dreams and live them big.

She called for “innovative, sustainable and diverse means to support the care and education of the children” as it is becoming more difficult globally to fund charities and institutions like the SOS Children’s Villages.