All must help to tackle child labour - NGO

Accra, July 18, GNA - The problem of child labour has now become a global issue which calls for the collaborative effort of stakeholders in development to tackle, Professor James Annorbah-Sarpei, Executive Director, Centre for Community Studies, Action and Development (CENCOSAD), said on Tuesday.

He said children were future leaders who must be given the needed training and support to put them in a better position to take up the leadership mantle rather than exposing them to hazards.

Prof. Annorbah-Sarpei said this at the opening of a three-day capacity building workshop for 50 participants drawn from Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) on the provision of vocational training for the prevention and elimination of child labour. He said the project on pilot basis, would effectively contribute towards the progressive and sustainable elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) in selected districts in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly through the provision of non-formal, cost effective vocational skills training.

The project would directly target 25 children between the ages of 14 and 17, comprising 15 women porters and 10 boys engaged in fishing. The children would be selected from five areas namely, James Town, Agblogbloshie, Ayawaso, Tema and Ho to undertake skills training to equip them to compete effectively in the labour market to secure their future.

It is being undertaken in collaboration with Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment, National Vocational Training Institute, GRATIS Foundation, National Board for Small-Scale Industries and Accra Metropolitan Assembly. Prof. Annorbah-Sarpei said the beneficiaries after counselling and rehabilitation would be reintegrated into the society while their parents would be equipped with basic literacy, entrepreneurial skills and link them to micro-finance institutions for support. He therefore, called for the institution of support groups within communities to nurture the reintegrated children and urged financial institutions to set up funds to invest in the growth and development of the children.

Ms Angela Amuachie, Project Coordinator of CENCOSAD, said the programme would identify good practices with focus on withdrawal and provision of skill training.

Ms Amuachie said the project would also involve radio presentation, vantage-point promotional activities and interactive testimonial sessions by the children to sensitize the public on the effects of child labour.