105 child labour victims rescued

The Government within the past two years, has rescued and rehabilitated 105 children from the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District of the Central Region, engaged in worst forms of child labour in fishing communities alongside the Volta Lake.

Out of the number, 77 were currently pursuing basic education while the remaining 28 were learning various vocations to make them economically viable.

Mr G.F. Acquah, the District Officer of the Department of Social Welfare, disclosed these at a durbar organised to mark World Child Labour Day at Winneba.

He noted that child trafficking and the worst form of child labour was prevalent among fishermen and fishmongers in Winneba and its environs, and called on government to take stringent measures to stop the practice.

Mr. Acquah, who is also the Focal Person for Child Trafficking Issues, cautioned that any person caught engaging in the practices would be arrested and prosecuted.

He said the acts undermined the growth and development of children and reminded the people that the most important asset of every nation was its citizens.

Mr Solomon K. Abban-Quaye, the District Chief Executive, urged individuals, parents, assembly members and traditional rulers to support the various child trafficking monitoring committees to eradicate the practices from the district once and for all.

He gave the assurance that the district assembly would work hard to eliminate child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour from the area.

Some parents advocated immediate enactment of bye-laws to punish persons who would engage in the practices.

Other speakers at the event included Mr. Richmond Mensah, District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Mr Kweku Arhin, District Director of Education, Mr A.S. Nkrumah, the Project Co-ordinator for Rural Enterprise Development and Ms. Hannah Eshun, the District Director, Births and Deaths Department of the Ministry of Health.

Source: GNA