Cocoa farmers asked to help eradicate child labour
The Project Manager of the Transmar Group, a cocoa farmer support group, Mr Alexander Gyedu, has called on farmers to support efforts at eradicating child labour within cocoa-growing communities.
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“Child labour is a social problem and the fight against it requires collective effort, hence we urge every farmer or member of this group to co-operate fully to be able to minimise its prevalence within the supply chain,” he added.
AGM
Mr Gyedu made the call at the premium payment and annual general meeting of Kokoo Pa, a farmer-based group in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, at a ceremony in Toase.
Eight thousand, six hundred farmers were presented with cheques totalling GH¢1.4 million from Transmar Group as their premium for the 2014/2015 cocoa season.
Mr Gyedu indicated that Transmar would not relent in its efforts to institute appropriate remedial measures to support families and victims of child labour.
He announced that his outfit would this year support Kokoo Pa in the implementation of Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS).
Research
Mr Gyedu said a recent research conducted by the Tulane University, United States of America (USA), with support from the US State Department, on the involvement of children in child labour in cocoa-growing areas, established that almost 96 per cent of child labourers in cocoa production in Ghana and Ivory Coast were involved in hazardous work, hence the need to address the menace.
President
The president of the farmer association, Mr Peter Aidoo, expressed grave worry about the failure of farmers to treat cocoa farming purely as a business venture which required greater attention and devotion.
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He said cocoa farming should neither be the preserve of people regarded as failures in society nor the last resort, but must be ventured into as a business.
He said through their own efforts and support from other organisations, they had been able to establish two input centres at Tepa and Mankraso to assist farmers with inputs.
Mr Aidoo said with the support of some international organisations, the groups had initiated moves to enhance the livelihood project as part of measures to increase the yield of the farmers.