Government Takes Action To Eliminate Child Labour In Cocoa Growing Areas

The government has allocated GH¢1.3 million to 47 municipal and district assemblies and 18 non-governmental organisations in cocoa growing areas to implement programmes towards the elimination of child labour.

Already, the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare has distributed 48 motorbikes, 1,000 bicycles, 67 computers, 61 printers and accessories to the assemblies for the implementation of the programme.

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, made this known in Kumasi at a three-day orientation and sensitisation workshop for municipal and district chief executives from cocoa growing districts in six regions.

The regions are Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Central.

The workshop was part of efforts by the government towards the elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) in the cocoa sector and to solicit the attention and commitment of municipal and district assemblies, as well as NGOs, towards the elimination of child labour.

At the end of the workshop, the assemblies are expected to implement action plans to improve the literacy levels of children by providing support for them to access basic education and vocational training.

The assemblies are also to empower and improve the livelihoods of farm families and build their capacities to effectively implement interventions to eliminate child labour.

Addressing the opening session, Mr Sekyere said the ministry had signed a memorandum of understandings (MoU) with all the 47 assemblies and the 18 NGOs to support the implementation of their action plans.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, said child labour was inimical to the growth and development of children and stressed that the quest to eliminate the evils associated with the practice called for close collaboration among all stakeholders.

He said recent negative media reports on the prevalence of child labour in the cocoa sector had raised concerns locally and in international circles.

That, the minister said, threatened the enormous potential of the cherished cocoa industry, which was the backbone of the Ghanaian economy.

Story : Nana Yaw Barimah