People engaged in child labour deserve stiffer punishment – DCE

Mr James Gunu, Akatsi-North DCE has called for stiffer punishments for patrons and recruiters of child-labour to deter them from the practice.

He said this must be complemented with sensitization and poverty reduction and descent work opportunities for poor families whose children were the victims.

Mr Gunu was addressing the child Labour-Day at Ave-Dakpa on the theme “Ghana Take Action Now and Say No to Child Labour.”

He said the involvement of young children, between eight and 12 years on farms, fishing, domestic chores and galamsey was mentally, physically and socially dangerous to the victims and also denies them formal education.

Mr Gunu noted that involving children in light chores and allowing them to go to school cannot be described as child labour, though parents must be mindful of how far they could push their children to help them.

Speakers during an open forum said ignorance and lack of foresight by some parents caused them to sell of their children and put them through strenuous work.

Twelve beneficiaries of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneur Development Agency (GYEEDA) were given hair dressing machines, under the government poverty reduction programme at the function.

Source: GNA