Minister tasks MDAs to curb child labour

Mr Daniel Syme, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister at the weekend tasked all Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) to make by laws and enforce them to help curb child labour in the region.

The Deputy Regional Minister made the call during this year’s World Child Labour Day held at Pwalugu in the Talensi Nabdam District.

It was organised by the District Assembly in collaboration with Afrikids Ghana, a Child Right non-governmental organisation (NGO).

He stressed the need for the MDAs to ensure that bylaws are not only made but   strictly enforced to deal with issues of child labour.

Mr Syme commended Afrikids Ghana and other NGOs for partnering government and its developmental efforts.

Mr Edward Awunnore, District Chief Executive said the days when parents hide behind poverty to  engage their children in child labour and not  sending  them  to school are gone since government had introduced a number pro-poor programmes.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Nicholas Kumah, Afrikids Ghana Country Director, said domestic labour is one of the hidden forms of child labour.

He spoke against the spate of child labour in the District as well as domestic violence.

Mr Kumah expressed regret about the high incidence of teenage pregnancy, child labour and school drop outs especially among girls and the poor performance of the Basic Education Certificate Examination at Pwalugu.

The occasion which was on the theme: “Ghana Take Action Now, No Child Labour in Domestic Work, “was patronised by civil society organisations, heads of department, assembly members, school children and parents.

Source: GNA