Ghana observes Universal Children’s Day

As part of the celebration of this year’s Universal Children’s Day which is celebrated every November 20, the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), an international non-governmental organisation with focus on the elimination of child labour in cocoa production, has organised a forum at Nyinahin for communities within the Atwima Mponua district.

The forum was to educate the pupils and the communities on the effects of child labour and the need to eliminate it.

It was also to encourage the Child Protection Committee (CPC) members to be more vibrant to promote their interest in club activities and to provide a platform for the efforts of CPCs to be recognised by other stakeholders.

The forum also provided a platform for other stakeholders  to understand how children perceive concepts like child labour, child rights and responsibilities and how these affected them.

This year’s celebration is on the theme: ‘Stop Violence Against Children.’

The National Coordinator of ICI, Mr Mike Arthur entreated parents to take good care of their children and provide them with education to enable them to become good leaders in future.

He said ICI in collaboration of CPCs in the various cocoa growing areas, have been educating parents and communities on the negative effects of child labour.

He said aside the practice endangering the life of the children as they are made to do works meant for adults, it also retarded the progress and development of the communities.

The day was also marked by poetry recitals and drama performed by the various child protection clubs from the schools of the communities.

The performance from the Pakyi Nkrumah CPC on the trial of a farmer who was convicted for using under aged children in his farm, won the hearts of the gathering.