Bouku Pupils Abandon School For Stone Mining!

The drop out rate among children of School going age Buoku in the Wenchi District of the Bong Ahafo Region is steadily on the rise as a result of child labour.

A large number of children aged between six and ten, SPACE FM spoke to said due to economic hardships at home they are compelled to abandon their classrooms for stone mining at Buoku Stone Quarry to either make a living or make a few cedis to support their parents.

The few children who are in school also work in the Quarry after school to earn money to sponsor their own education.

The children who do not wear any protective gear are exposed to all manner of dangers body injuries especially that of the eyes.

Some of the parents, SPACE FM interviewed at the Quarry-site, said they have no choice but to go to work in the stone-pits with their wards, because they add up to the man-power numbers needed for their operation.

Meanwhile, the Brong Ahafo Regional co-coordinator of the Commission on Children, Mr Andrew Boye-Agyeman who says the commission is aware of the problem, told SPCE FM that, the Ghana Commission on Children will soon launch an educational campaign targeted at parents in the District to dissuade them from sending their children into the stone pits. The focus of the education would be ?send your child to school?.

He stressed that children of school going age have the right under the constitution to a decent living and education. He added that the commission would not sit down unconcerned for these rights of the innocent children to be trampled upon with impunity.