Two NGOs team up against child labour
Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Brong Ahafo Region have teamed up to tackle child labour, especially those engaged in illegal mining in the Asutifi North and South districts.
Advertisement
The NGOs, Free the Slaves (FTS) and the Mission of Hope International Foundation (MIHOSO) are, therefore, working to prevent and control child labour in the mining communities located in the two districts.
A statement signed by Mr Israel Zaghe, Public Relations Officer of FTS and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said research by the two NGOs called on the national security to intervene and ensure that the youth in the two districts had a bright future.
The statement listed Hwidiem, Acherensua, Worommuso, Nkasiem, Oseikrom, Ahiatua, Mehami, Krapo and Nkrankrom, as places in the Asutifi South District where the practice of child labour, especially for illegal mining operations or “Galamsey” was rampant.
“The problem is not different at Obengkrom, Nfahun-faka, Donkorkrom, Kenyase Numbers One and Two, Ntotroso, Gyedu and Wamahinso in the Asutifi North District,” it added.
Learning groups
The statement said “the MIHOSO Team had structured 10 learning groups, not only to assimilate best practices in children’s issues, but both as a fulcrum of activity while playing a peer group watch-dog role in their respective native communities.”
It observed that because of the widespread ignorance of the populace with regard to the consequences of illegal mining and child labour on the society, the twin menace continued to prevail in mining areas.
The statement also said the situation was thwarting efforts by the Ghana Police Service, Department of Social Welfare, Ghana Education Service and the National Commission for Civic Education, among others, to combat child labour in the country.
It, therefore, urged Ghanaians to join the fight against illegal mining and child labour in general to “bring about the much- needed change where the country’s future is under subtle but apparent threat”.