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Adansi North District takes steps to eliminate child labour

The Adansi North District Assembly in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday 31st October 2018 launched “The child labour free zone” in the district to eliminate child labour in its communities.

Date Created : 11/9/2018 3:42:10 AM : Story Author : Theresa workartey/ghanadistricts.com

To protect children from all forms of exploitation and promote their welfare and development, the Assembly had drafted by-laws and also constituted a committee to provide protection and supervise the control of children under 18 years of age in all towns and villages within the area of the Assembly to ensure equal opportunity for development and access to quality education.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at Abedwum, a community in the district, the District Chief Executive, Mr Eric Kwaku Kusi, said section 16 of the Children’s Act entrusted the care and protection of all children in the hands of metropolitan ,municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) urging the MMDAs to carry out the mandate in an effective manner without fear and favour.

Mr. Kusi quoted the United Nations (UN) definition of child labour saying it consisted of any work that deprived children of their childhood, potential, dignity as well as their schooling.

The DCE said factors responsible for the perpetuation of child labour included irresponsible parenting, children borne out of wedlock and children with no parents and relatives who become street children and engaged in any work to survive.

Mr Kusi said the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE), capitation grant and school feeding programme were some of the interventions to increase school enrolment and alleviate part of the economic burden of parents and guardians.

He, therefore, called on parents and guardians to send their children to school to benefit from the various government programme and interventions.

The DCE expressed his appreciation to the International Labour Organization (ILO).and the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) for providing financial and technical support towards the launch of the Adansi North District Child labour free Zone.

The Regional Director of the Information Services Department (ISD), Nana Akrasi Sarpong, said Ghana was signatory to many international conventions on child rights.

He said the welfare and interest of the Ghanaian Child was of paramount interest to government and had therefore initiated a number of policies and interventions to support parents financially to be able to look after their children and enroll them in school rather than engaging them in trading activities which affect their health, education and development.

Nana Akrasi however, explained that child labour did not consist of light work such as household chores and performing other household duties.

The National Programme Officer-Child Labour of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Emmanuel Kwame Mensah, said there were about 152 million children worldwide doing work not appropriate for their age and which was affecting their health, education and development.

He, therefore, commended the Adansi North District for working towards the elimination of child labour in the communities of the district.

The Director of Operations of the GNASSM, Mr. Emmanuel Yirenkyi Antwi, said one of the objectives of GNASSM was excluding children from mining activities hence the association’s support to the Adansi North District Assembly to eliminate the practice in the district.

He said GNASSM was waiting for the government to lift the ban on illegal mining so that members of the Association could resume operations in accordance with government guidelines and regulations.

The event was attended by students and pupils in the district, assembly members and traditional leaders.

The queenmother of Adansi Nana Amonimaa Dede II chaired the function.