Parents reminded of law forbidding child labour

Kokrobite (GA), July 17, GNA - Mr Robert Darku Anas-Okoe, Acting Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has reminded parents on the laws forbidding child labour.

Mr Anas-Okoe who was addressing a seminar on children rights at Kokrobite, a fishing community in the Ga District on Wednesday said exploitation of children at the expense of their education and general well being was against the laws of Ghana.

He called on opinion leaders to discourage the practice of forcing children to go on fishing expeditions against their will. Mr Anas-Okoe also advised the youth to desist from anti-social activities such as drug abuse and criminal activities.

"You should rather engage in ventures that would ensure your future well being," he said.

the GNAT Ladies Society (GNATLS) have called for the extension of maternity leave from three months to six months to enable lactating mothers time to cater for their babies.

They contended that the situation where they go on leave six weeks before and after delivery makes it difficult for them to comply with the six months exclusive breast feeding advocated by health workers. Members of the Society made the call at a lecture to mark the 15th anniversary celebration of the GNATLS at Koforidua on Tuesday. They urged the government to consider making the Distant Education programme attractive enough for women who play their roles as mothers and wives in homes.

The Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Presbyterian Education Unit, Ms Beatrice Boateng said statistics indicated that women teachers formed a greater percentage in the primary level and the Junior Secondary School (JSS) saying this had made women participation in the activities of GNAT increased.

She noted that the rationale for founding GNATLS was to use the wing to strengthen women's participation and improve upon their performance in the classrooms, the society as well as teachers. The Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Awurabena Ahoi advised female teachers not to allow the Teachers Certificate "A" be their last stop in education" adding that they should strive hard and take advantage of the Distant Education Program (DEP) to improve their professional standards.

"Despite our busy schedule at home let's programme ourselves well so that we can get at least an hour before bedtime to learn", she said. She also advised teachers to preach to children moral education on the need for them to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.