Eleven children who once found refuge at the Mama Laadi Orphanage Home have been reunited with their biological families, marking a major milestone in the home’s long-standing effort to return vulnerable children to safe and nurturing environments.
The reunification ceremony, held Friday at the orphanage’s premises in Bolgatanga, underscored a shift from institutional care toward family-based support, with social welfare officials pledging continued monitoring to ensure the children’s well-being.
Established in 2006, Mama Laadi Orphanage Home has provided shelter, education and psychosocial support to children affected by poverty, family breakdown and loss. While the home has served as a place of safety for years, its ultimate goal, officials say, has always been family reunification whenever conditions allow.
“This is a reunification ceremony for children who are returning to live with their families,” said Lydia Achanbisa, a representative of Braveurora, the main sponsor of the program and a child protection officer. “Social Welfare will continue to monitor the families from time to time to ensure the children are well cared for.”
Gabriel Ayine Jnr., a social worker with Mama Laadi Orphanage Home, said the institution focuses on rescuing children from the streets and rehabilitating them for reintegration into society.
“In the course of rehabilitation, we provide healthcare, education and psychosocial support,” Ayine said. “Our core purpose has always been to reunite children with their families when it is safe and appropriate.”
The children being reunited range in age from 8 to 17 years.
To support their transition back home, each child will receive three female goats, a 25-kilogram bag of rice, student mattresses, toiletries and an undisclosed amount of money to cover transportation and initial upkeep.
John Theodore Azam, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, said reunification aligns with Ghana’s alternative care system policy.
“When children cannot live with their parents, we place them in alternative care, including residential homes,” Azam said. “But when reunification is possible, our role is to support that process and ensure the children are protected.”
Officials described the ceremony as both a celebration and a reminder of the importance of strengthening family and community systems to protect vulnerable children.
The event took place on Dec. 25, 2025. Mama Laadi Children’s Home is supported by a longtime partner, AfriKids Ghana, which has worked with the home for nearly 20 years to promote child welfare and family reunification.
Source: A1 Radio | Joseph Napoleon Anaaya | Bolgatanga
