The Chief Executive for the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Hon. Elijah Adansi-Bonah has advised parents and guardians to ensure that their children enrol in school instead of engaging them in child labour. He explained that child labour compromises children’s physical, mental, social or educational development.
Speaking at an event to mark World Day against Child labour, at Ntonsua, in the municipality, the MCE noted that the Assembly has put measures in place to curb the practice of child labour in the Municipality.
The global theme for this year’s celebration is: “Social Justice for all. End Child Labour,” alongside the national theme: “Intensify action against child labour; do it fast, do it now”.
MCE Adansi-Bonah stated that the Municipal Child Protection committee has been tasked to do monthly monitoring of parents who engage their wards in child labour in the Municipality.
He stressed that parents who fall foul of the directive and arrested will be dealt with according to the law.
World day against child labour observed on June12 each year, was set aside to commemorate and to raise awareness and highlight the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL).
Mr. Adansi-Bonah said over the years it has been revealed that children in the Obuasi Municipality engage in galamsey and other activities such as farming and street hawking in order to contribute to their family’s income to provide for themselves some basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter at the expense of their education.
He stressed that such activities affect the children’s ability to go through school successfully saying children who engage in work beyond their capabilities, report late to school resulting in fatigue and lose concentration in the classroom thus affecting performance on their overall academic scorecard.
The MCE disclosed that a child is meant to learn, not to earn and for that matter, the school should be their only workplace.
He said the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) report by the Ghana Statistical Service revealed that 419, 254 children, aged between five to 17, are engaged in economic activities in the country.
The Obuasi MCE conceded that it was important for children to help out at home and learn valuable skills, but parents should not put their children into situations that may endanger or harm them, especially when they work in hazardous environments.
He stated that children deserve to hold books and not bricks and to hold pens and not shovels.
He, therefore, entreated parents to show keen interest in the future of their wards by enrolling them in school and monitor their performance, as well as support them both financially and emotionally.
The Obuasi Station officer of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), Chief Inspector Josephine Adom Attakorah cited poverty as the root cause of child labour Poverty.
She said Poverty is certainly the greatest single force driving children into the workplace and said when families cannot afford to meet their basic needs like food, water, education or healthcare; they have no choice but to send their children to work to supplement the household income.
She disclosed that DOVVSU is working assiduously with relevant agencies to reduce incidence of child labour in Obuasi by enforcing the laws and intensifying education on the need to stop child labour.
