The European Union in Ghana has indicated its preparedness to fight child labour in Ghana.
According to the EU, their human right strategy is to support institutions who are championing the fight against child labour.
Speaking to Citi News at the project launch of a three-year European Union-funded program that seeks to contribute to the prevention of child labour and trafficking, the head of the delegation for the European Union H.E Diana Acconcia indicated that, the project will, in the end, mitigate the activities of child labour in Ghana.
According to her, child labour does not only affect the future of the children but the nation at large adding that children are denied the best at that age.
“Child labour is a great impediment to the rights of the children. The rights of children to live, to go to school and to become responsible is dear to the European Union hence our quest to fight the canker,” H.E Diana Acconcia said.
The head of delegation for the European Union in Ghana noted that their partnership with child rights organisation, Hyen Mpoano will help reduce child labour especially in the coastal communities of Ghana.
Deputy Director for Hyen Mpoano, Stephen Kankam told Citi News they will adopt and pilot the key strategies of the Kpando Torkor model which was widely successful in Moree another fishing community in the Central Region to ensure that they are successful in their fight against this canker.
“There is a high prevalence of child labour in the community which allows for an effective response from us, “the Deputy Director for the organisation said.
He added that some of the strategies they will adopt will be to rekindle voluntarism at the community level by setting up community child protection committees and anti-child labour and trafficking advocates who function as community watchdogs to scout working sites, homes and streets to ensure that no child works during school contact hours. He was optimistic that this will ensure zero tolerance for absenteeism thereby increasing enrolment and attendance in community.
The Deputy Director noted that the project will work with key stakeholders such as the Department of Social Welfare, the Directorate of Education and the District Child Protection Committees to ensure compliance.
“We will partner with the Department of Social Welfare, the Directorate of Education and the District Child Protection Committees to ensure that there is compliance. For instance, the Department of Social Welfare will also provide temporary shelters for children involved in intercepted cases in the community and survivors who have been rescued and need rehabilitation,” Stephen Kankam told Citi News.
Victor Mensah an Alternative Dispute Resolution Officer for Challenging Height another child right organisation cautioned parents who give their children out to desist from such practice since the law will eventually deal with them.
“My advice to those who give out their children to go and work as child slaves for other people is that, there is the likelihood of the child getting hurt in the process since they are made to overwork. If you have too many children and you need assistance you can go to social welfare or philanthropist to help you,” Victor Mensah added.
