By: Juliet Korkor
This year’s national celebration of World Day against Child Labour was marked at Ntowkrom in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region with a call on parents and guardians to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to enjoy his or her childhood and build a brighter future.
The Day which is celebrated globally every June 12 is to highlight the plight of children engaged in child labour and educate the public on the need for this act to be drastically abolished in the country. This is because, it does not only retard social development of children, but also deprives them of their fundamental rights of a childhood filled with joy, access to education and opportunities to better their future.
The day, which was launched in 2000 by the International Labour organization, ILO, sought to address the social injustice faced by children in quest to make ends meet for their family.
Even though the commemoration of the day over the past two decades has helped reduce child labour, the menace still prevails as report by the ILO has revealed that there are 160 million children engaged in child labour worldwide with almost half of them involved in hazardous work.
Speaking on the global theme for the World Day Against Child Labour “Protecting Children against Child Labour Now More Than Ever”, the Eastern Regional Minister indicated that eradication of child labour in the country will ensure that every child is given the chance to enjoy their childhood and pursue their dreams which will aid them to justifiably contribute towards the country’s development.
“Let us renew our determination to create a world where every child can enjoy their rights, pursue their dreams and reach their full potential”, he added.
The Ayensuano District Chief Executive, Josephine Ansaah Awuku Inkoom on the other hand, observed that children in the Ayensuano District are subjected to all forms of child labour especially in assisting their parents on the farm since agriculture is the predominant occupation in the district.
A Representative from the Ghana Employers Association, Kingsley Laar pointed out that, supporting vulnerable families by ensuring that parents have decent work and adequate income are some measures that can help drastically eliminate child labour in Ghana.
The occasion was used to launch the third phase of the National Plan Action document dubbed Ghana Acceleration Plan against Child Labour by the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong and the Deputy Minister of Employment and labour Relations, Bright Wireku Brobbey.
There were cultural display, poetry recitals and drama to demonstrate the negative impacts of Child Labour in the developmental agenda of Ghana.
Some development partners of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations also donated exercise books, stationery, learning materials and sanitary pads to the Ntowkrom D/A Basic School, Peboase D/A Basic School and Coaltar D/A Basic School.
