Residents of Antobam and Wansem Camp communities in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the Western Region have commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and its partners for supporting them with alternative livelihood services.

This formed part of the Organisation’s Cocoa Communities Project (CCP) to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

The project provided alternative livelihood in bee keeping, poultry, grass cutter rearing and vegetable production, soap making among others.

The 44-month CCP project is titled: “Towards Child Labour Free Cocoa Growing Communities in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, Through an Integrated Area Based Approach."

The communities made the commendation when participants at the end of a four-day information sharing meeting called on the communities.

Madam Adjoa Aninwa, a beneficiary, said they are now work during the off-farm season to support their children in school.

She said women in the communities has now organised themselves into co-operatives as part of the project to access loans for their small businesses.

“If the project folds up, we will be able to support ourselves through the training we got from the project,” she added.

Madam Aninwa said the project had also created awareness on the dangers of using children in hard labour, which could affect their education, health and future development.

Alhaji Abdullah Toppoh, Chief of Wansem Camp, expressed gratitude to ILO for providing interventions to stop using children as child labour.

He said since the inception of the project in the communities, school enrolment has increased with the provision of free school uniforms and other logistics to make teaching and learning exciting to the children.

On the sustainability of the project, the Chief said, he would continue to mobilise his subordinates in communal labour to provide basic support to the communities.

Mrs. Stella Dzator, National Programme Officer, CCP said about 559 targeted have been provided with start-up tools and 869 beneficiaries have been also trained in off-farm employable activities.

She said about 698 have benefitted from saving and credit scheme.

The project is been implemented in seven districts in three regions including Twifo Attimokwaa and Hermang Lower Denkyira, Amenfi West and Central, Birim South, Suhum, and Ayensuano