DCE accuses opinion leaders for undermining rule of law

Mr Isaac Kingsley Ahunu-Armah, Gomoa East District Chief Executive (DCE) has accused some community opinion leaders such as politicians, chiefs and religious leaders for putting impediments in the enforcement of laws.

Mr Ahunu-Armah stressed that because of the influence opinion leaders wield in the society, people who fell foul with the law often ran to them for assistance, which often led to the perversion of justice.

The DCE was speaking at a forum after a national sensitisation walk on child trafficking at Gomoa Afranse near Agona Swedru in the Central Region.

Mr Isaac Annan and Mr Thomas Quarcoo, national peace walk advocates had embarked on the walk across the 170 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

The walk, which aimed at drawing public attention on the dangers of child trafficking and child labour, started in the Western Region on February 16 and was expected to end on December, 2011.

Mr Ahunu-Armah appealed to politicians to be steadfast and refuse to play into the hands of miscreants.

Mr Coleman Darko, Co-ordinator of the walk said though Act 495 prohibits child labour and trafficking the law was being abused with impunity.

He described child labour as getting a child below 18 years to undertake a duty which was above his or her strength.

Mr Annan popularly known as “Kak Dee” said he and his team had rescued a number of children who had been trafficked especially to the Cote d’Ivoire while in the Western Region.

He said it was an offence for parents to shirk their responsibilities towards their children and urged the public to report any issue concerning child maltreatment, trafficking and labour to the law enforcing agents for redress.

The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare in collaboration with the assemblies are sponsoring the walk.

Source: GNA