Child labour intervention agencies urged to be transparent, accountable
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has presented a cheque of $20,000 each to four child labour intervention implementing agencies with a call on them to be transparent and accountable in the discharge of their duties.
They are Child Rights International, Development Fortress Association, Child Aid and Youth Development Network and Global Responses Initiative.
The presentation was made at the opening of a four-day implementing partners’ workshop on integration and coordination for ILO constituent, implementing agencies and other key partners at Agona Swedru.
Mrs Stella Dzator, National Programme Officer for ILO Cocoa Community Project (CCP), told the GNA that the money given to the implementing agencies was only a part of the budget since they could assess up to 250, 000 dollars at the end of the project.
The project, funded by the United State Department of Labour is titled: “Towards Child Labour Free Cocoa Growing Communities in Cote D’lvoire and Ghana through an integrated area base approach.”
Currently, the project is being hosted in four districts namely the Birim South District in the Eastern Region, Suhum Kraboa Coalter and Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira in the Central Region and Wassa Amenfi West in the Western Region.
Mrs Dzator explained that 40 communities were benefiting from the CCP with focus on 10 communities per district, 250 households or families per district, 87 children per community, 25 households or families per community and between three and four children per household.
The communities includedTei Mensah, Sowatey, Obuoho, Densuso, Kyeaboso, Hasowodze, Bimpong Egya, Adinkrom/ Yeboakrom, Akortekrom, Kroabose, Oforikrom/ Aboabo, ApoliBeposo, Aboi Fie, AboiNkwanta, Yirase, Nwansema Camp and Chichiso No 2.
She urged the agencies to ensure that the beneficiary communities get the opportunity to improve on their livelihood to eliminate child labour.
She called on the implementing agencies to provide up to date reports on the progress of activities for easy monitoring and evaluation in the target communities.
Mr Osei Mensah, a representative of the Implementing Agencies, pledged to deliver on their mandate to improve and enhance the living condition of cocoa farmers in the fight against child labour.
Source: GNA