The Municipal Chief Executive of Ahafo Ano North District, Martina Appiah-Nyantakyi has challenged parents to work hard to root out issues of child labour and abuse in society.
She said the government’s agenda of providing a brighter future for Ghana’s children cannot be complete if parents do not put an end to all forms of child labour and abuse.
She made the remarks at a ceremony organized by Right To Play Ghana to mark World Children’s Day at Mamfo in the Ahafo Ano North District of the Ashanti Region.
‘I sometimes meet children selling in the market and when you interview them they tell you their parents asked them to go and sell rather than going to school. This is not good,’ she lamented.
‘Thanks to the government’s Free Senior High School educational policy, the children can be whatever they dream and parents no longer have an excuse to keep these children home,’ she said.
The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in the district at the ceremony noted that it is working to eradicate all forms of abuse against children.
Divisional Crime Officer, Superintendent J. K. Adotey revealed that the Unit is after a man who allegedly impregnated his own daughter at Mankranso.
He disclosed the girl, reportedly between the ages of 12 and 17 is pregnant and unable to walk.
He used the opportunity to charge parents to report any act of abuse meted out to their children or any child within the community.
Speaking on behalf of the Ghana Country Director of Right-To-Play, Josephine Mukakalisa, the Project Officer, Julius Tsatsu, said the organisation has succeeded in reducing issues of child labour and abuse in the communities they operate in by working with the various Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs).
“We have empowered the CCPCs in collaboration with World Vision to work hard in ending all forms of abuse and child labour,” he said.
Mr Tsatsu said Right To Play Ghana has also facilitated the setting up of Children’s Club to educate pupils and community members about their rights and obligations.
He emphasized that the global organisation will work with the government and other stakeholders to bolster the confidence of Ghanaian children.