Ajumako children want anti child labour laws to be enforced

Ajumako (C/R) Oct.4 GNA- School children in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam have called on government to enforce laws and protocols against the worse forms of child labour and other activities that could affect their health

The laws are the Human Trafficking Act (2005), the children's Act (1998) and the Domestic Violence Act (2007) and several bi and multi-lateral protocols. The children said this at the first Youth Mock Assembly organised by the District Secretariat of the National Youth Council at Ajumako on Thursday.

The Youth Mock Assembly was used by the school children in the Central Region to voice out problems affecting the welfare of children for those in authority for address.

Addressing the Assembly, Master Emmanuel Segae, a pupil who acted as the District Chief Executive for the area, quoted the Centre for Rural Enterprise Development, an NGO operating in the area as saying that, it rescued 180 children from worse forms of child labour last year. He said the NGO has provided school uniforms and other learning materials to 110 of the number who have been enrolled in school. According to him, 70 of them who are above school going age, have been trained in tailoring, Carpentry, hairdressing, and have been supplied with tools bought by the International Labour Organization. He said information available to the NGO and District Social Welfare office indicates that a large number of children were still trapped in worse forms of labour while several of them were at risk of being engaged in that unfortunate situation. Speaking on the Assembly's finances, Miss Clara Matilda Abekah, who also acted as Member of Parliament for the area, said it was more imperative for the Assembly to adopt pragmatic strategy towards improving the generation of funds internally. She urged the Assembly Members to educate their people to honour their tax obligations to enable the Assembly generate enough fund for development projects.

Dr Sekou Nkrumah, Acting National Coordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC) and Mr Manuel Kweku Asiedu, Ag. Central Region NYC Coordinator were among personalities present.