Akufo-Addo advocates for proactive action against child labour

Kumasi, Aug. 13, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Flag bearer of New Patriotic Party (NPP) has advocated for a more proactive action to curb child labour in the country.

He said child labour in whatever form deprived children of their dignity and general development and expressed concern at many children being engaged in the practice in spite of efforts by government to improve on the situation. Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing the eight Quadrennial Delegates' Congress of Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in Kumasi on Tuesday. The four-day congress is under the theme "Social Protection For All: A Pre-Requisite For Consolidating Democratic Governance - The Role OF Trade Unions''.

About 1,000 delegates and observers representing the 17 affiliated national unions, associate member unions from the informal sector are attending the congress.

Issues to be discussed are to consider proposals to amend the GTUC constitution, adoption of resolutions and policy proposals for the next quadrennial congress.

Nana Akufo-Addo said the next NPP Government, would commit resources to build more classrooms, make Senior High School (SHS) education free, Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and School Feeding Programme to make education more accessible to all Ghanaian children.

He pledged to institute vibrant programmes to develop the capacity and knowledge of teachers, improve their conditions of service for quality education delivery. Nana Akufo-Addo announced plans to institute technology colleges to train artisans and especially school dropouts to develop their skills. He said these colleges to be established throughout the country were crucial in the NPP's plan to give meaningful life and decent jobs for the youth.

Nana Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation to past and present leaders of organised labour for their struggle to improve the working conditions of Ghanaian workers, and pledged the NPP's commitment to create the enabling environment to engage organised labour in dialogue to address their concerns for increased productivity.

He said the NPP would ensure organised labour established offices in all the regions and consultations with the Tripartite Committee organised on regular basis to benefit the Ghanaian worker. On the sale of 70 per cent shares of Ghana Telecom to management of Vodafone Nana Akufo-Addo said the problem was not about removing a management and replacing it but injecting the needed capital, resources and fresh ideas into the company to make it more viable and vibrant to compete in the world market. He said it was against this background that Government deemed it right to offload some shares in the company to a strategic company like Vodafone for the benefit of the nation.