Government moves to eliminate worst forms of child labour

THE DEPUTY Minister of Employment and Social welfare, Mr. Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, has announced the government's determination to eliminate child labour in the cocoa industry.

He disclosed that a survey conducted last year, in relation to the girl child, indicated that even though about 92% of both boys and girls in cocoa growing communities attend school, 56% of the girls cannot read and write.

Mr. Antwi Boasiako said the survey indicated that 44.5% of children who work on cocoa farms were girls, and 34.6% of them also work on other crops.

In the Asante Akim North District, the minister said 10% of the children participated in hazardous work in cocoa production.

The Minster stated that the government had put some measures in place for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in cocoa production, and that it had given direct support to almost 500 girls, who are undergoing formal education and skills learning such as hairdressing and dressmaking, in 11 districts.

He made these disclosures during the observation of this year's World Day against Child Labour at Dwease in the Asante Akim North Municipality over the weekend, under the theme: “Give girls a chance: End child labour”.

He urged the people of Dwease, and Ghanaians in general, to support the government to eliminate the canker of child labour, to ensure that our children enjoyed a better future with hope and confidence.

The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Anima Wilson, praised the government for the promotion of occupational safety and health measures in cocoa production. She urged all the stakeholders at the national, regional, district and community levels to complement efforts by the government to eliminate child labour problems.

The Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Daniel Avah, who represented the Municipal Chief Executive for Asante Akim North, Mr. Thomas Osei Bonsu, said municipal child labour protection committees had been formed to oversee the total elimination of the worst form of child labour in the municipality.

He advised the communities to desist from the child labour practice in the community, so that it would help the children to get better education.

Nana Owusu Banahene, Chief of Dwease, appealed to the government to provide learning facilities at the Integrated Community Centre (ICCES) for employable skills in order to help the youth of the area.

He also appealed to the government to provide a library for the school children in the town.

Nana Banahene commended the government for bringing the programme to Dwease, to sensitise the people of the area to put stop to the practice of child labour. He said the Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly was currently working in 10 identified child labour cocoa communities, including Dwease.

He presented 10 bicycles to the 10 communities to enhance their activities.