Global advocacy initiative launched to fight child labour

A global advocacy initiative aimed at highlighting the plight of children who engage in hard labour has been launched in Accra.

Dubbed “Stop Child Labour in Ghana: School is the Best Place to Work,” an initiative being carried out by Macee Foundation Ghana, a child right advocacy organisation, the programme will help create awareness of the negative impact of child labour and the need to take steps to curb the situation.

 At the launch yesterday in Accra, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba, said when children were given opportunity to education, they would be able to develop their potential and contribute to any society they found themselves.

According to her, when children were subjected to situations which affected them negatively, they would not be able to develop themselves, adding that actions which hindered the development of these children who could become the leaders of the nation should be avoided, to pave way for them to be involved in national development.

Dreams

She said child labour deprived children of their future and cuts down their dreams, hindering societal change and national development.

She, therefore, urged stakeholders, individuals and organisations to collaborate to ensure that Ghanaian children acquired the needed education that would enable them to realise their potential and contribute to national development.

Steps by government

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Bright Wireko-Brobby, said the government had taken steps through legislation, policies, programmes and interventions to address the menace.

He said the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) programme by the government was a way of granting Ghanaian children opportunity to education to prepare them for the labour market, adding that it would enhance their personal advancement in knowledge acquisition, increase their social status and health and economic emancipation.

The Chief of Staff for the Forum for Kings and Traditional Leaders of Africa, Torgbui Crobah Tengey, said with adequate support from the government and organisations, the foundation would be able to assist children on the street to realise their dreams and potential.