Ministries join forces to tackle Child Labour in Fisheries and Mines

The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Enoch Teye Mensah says the ongoing remediation activities to curtail child labour activities in Ghana's cocoa sector will be replicated in the fisheries.

The remediation activities are aimed at promoting child welfare to improve occupational health and family welfare within cocoa growing communities.

Mr. E.T. Mensah says a holistic programme is being developed to address challenges in child trafficking and use of children in trades like mining and fishing.

His ministry is engaging other sector ministries including Women and Children Affairs, Agriculture as well as Mines and Energy to look at concerns of child labour in the fisheries and mining sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

He tells Luv Fm poverty eradication and skill training programmes along the coast line are to be stepped up in the implementation of an action plan.

“Now that we've got some money ($20 billion dollars) approved for the expansion of the LEAP, we're going to spread it because we have said it that the coastline, we've been quite often being neglecting them. When you talk about poverty and what has to be done, we look elsewhere. So we are going to go out, all out crusade to make sure that these issues are addressed. This social welfare thing is a must”, Mr. E.T. Mensah stated.

He added the ministry is encouraging mining firms to emulate the corporate social responsibility programme of Newmont Ghana in community economic empowerment though skill training.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh