NGO Trains Parents On Child Labour

A one-week training workshop has begun at Fante Ekura in Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region for parents of child labourers.
Parents would be taken through lessons in cooperative organization as well as soap-making.

The training, which is being organized by Mission of Hope for Society Foundation, a child-rights non-governmental organization is aimed at reducing poverty among especially women, as well as lowering the incidence of child labour and teenage pregnancy in the Pru district.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of Mission of Hope, Gabriel Gbiel noted that contrary to the perception that his outfit had an agenda of arresting parents for their irresponsibility towards their wards, they had rather come to equip them with employable skills which could help to support the education of their children.

He advised the parents to pay attention to the resource persons who would be taking them through the various disciplines.

He said if they commit themselves to the soap making business, it could fetch them millions of cedis to finance the education of their children even to the university level, and also improve their standard of living.

The CEO noted that, quite often, people read politics into such activities and thus prevented others from participating.

He said the training was for those who were ready to learn, despite their political affiliation.

He assured participants that his outfit was still lobbying for donors to support their children who have been stopped from working as labourers.

Mr. Gbiel said although they projected for 200 children, about 400 have so far been registered, therefore a package was being prepared to send those of school-going age to school whilst the older ones would be trained in a vocation of their choice.

A resource person, Mrs. Lucy Mensah, who has specialized in the making of various detergents and soaps, noted that in Ghana, things which are given for free are perceived to be of inferior quality.

She asked participants to see the training as an opportunity because if they got committed to it, the soap business could earn them not only money but fame.

The chief of Fante Ekura, Nana Ntie, who was one of the trainees noted that the programme was a great source of relief to the community.

He said that recent frustrations in fishing, which was the main occupation of the community, indicated that the sea was losing its fish stocks, making fishing less lucrative. He observed that soap-making would therefore boost commercial activities in the community.

Nana called on his subjects to be punctual to the workshop and pass on the skills they acquire to the next generation.

The programme is expected to train parents of at least 100 child labourers withdrawn from activities like fishing and street hawking.

From Rocklyn Antonio, Yeji