Girls call for end to child labour

The Girls Empowerment Club of Akyinaso Basic School in the Assin South District, has petitioned their District Chief Executive, Nana Kwabena Adjei Anomafo and central government to put in place strict measures to end child labour in the community.

Ms Millicent Frimpong, President of the club said the situation is alarming as it is hindering the rights of children to be in school and be educated to become good future leaders in the community.

She said children in the community are faced with various forms of challenges such as sexual harassment, lack of parental control, school dropouts, forced into early marriages, and inadequate supply of teaching materials to enhance their learning.

The girls made the call to commemorate the International Day of the African Child, an event supported by Roads International to ensure that the rights of children are not taken for granted.

A statement issued in Accra by Ms Abigail Edem Hunu, Coordinator of the Girls Empowerment Project and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the celebration was on the theme: “Conflict and Crisis in Africa, Protecting all Children’s Rights.”

Ms Frimpong stated that the issue of sexual harassments and rape cases have been left for far too long as security personnel do not attach so much seriousness to them, making the perpetrators to escape the law.

She claimed that the Girls Empowerment Club and the school body have been neglected by the District Assembly since its inception thereby making the numerous efforts of the Headmaster to have at least one school block futile.

She said the school has no urinal and a few toilet facilities, which makes it difficult for female when they are in their menstrual cycle.

“This is making us miss our classes as some prefer to stay at home during this period.

“All women who work in the various government institutions such as the Health Directorate, Ministry of Food Agriculture, and Education Directorate among others are not natives of the district all because of the above mentioned”, she said.

Ms Frimpong said the number of girls who become pregnant during the Basic Education and Certificate Examination keeps rising because guidance and counselling of the girl child and boys are not working efficiently.

The girls therefore called on government and the Assembly to educate people especially parents on the rights of children to prevent them being exploited as cheap labour in the community.

She said government needs to strengthen institutions to combat crime against children and pay attention to the urgent needs of children in the District for the needed development.

Ms Hunu also reiterated that children should not be made to suffer at their early stages of life or be made to engage in child labour, because it is against their fundamental human rights.

She urged parents in the district to be up and doing to ensure that the future of their children are secured.