Some 270 children out of school due to poverty

Ajumako (C/R), Feb 12, GNA - About 180 children of school going age in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District are in the worst form of child labour working in commercial farms and cracking stones. Mr. James Ampiah, the Deputy Director of the Center for Rural Enterprise Development CRED), said this at the launch of a programme to withdraw children from child labour in the Central Region. He said over 90 children are doing f ishing in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District.

International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour in the Central Region is sponsoring the programme.

The programme is aimed at rescuing children working in commercial farms and stone quarries in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District. Mr. Ampiah said CRED has lined-up activities including enrolment of the children in basic schools, skills and apprenticeship training for those above school going age.

Parents and guardians of such children would be given "tailor-made" skills training and assisted to access credit. When the economic status of the parents is improved, the child is less likely to go into child labour," Mr Ampiah said.