The Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI, Mr Alan Kyeremanten, has called on African Governments and parents to collaborate in the upbringing of children on the continent. He said children as the most treasured assets and future leaders for the continent, "we need to ensure that parents bring up and nurture their children with the capabilities to administer their countries and continent." Mr Kyeremanten made the call in a speech read on his behalf at a durbar held in Ashaiman by Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition and Abibimman Foundation for school children to mark African Children's Day. Over 1,000 seedlings provided by Greening Ghana Secretariat were distributed to 38 schools in Ashaiman Circuit for planting. He noted that the youth below 20 years account for over 50 per cent of the world's population therefore it was incumbent on African Governments and parents to protect and guide them. Mr Kyeremanten said it was in recognition of these that various commitments and pledges on children had been made, reviewed and renewed at different forums. These include the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children, Millennium Summit, World Summit on Social Development and Summit on Sustainable Development. Mr Kyeremanten said although substantial successes had been achieved in some countries to improve the living standards of children, Africa was lagging behind. He mentioned high mortality rate, low enrolment of children in schools, especially the girl child, prevalence of HIV/AIDS, armed conflicts which continued to destabilize many children with some enlisted as child soldiers and child trafficking. Source: GNA