Danish Embassy assists in the fight against child labour

Offinso-Ashanti, Nov. 23, GNA - The Danish Embassy in Ghana has provided cash, inputs and equipment worth 12,000 dollars to people in communities in 11 cocoa growing districts in the country to help fight against child labour.

The equipment including motorbikes, computers and accessories were presented to communities in Bia, Sefwi Wiawso, Suhum Kraboa Coaltar, Amansie Central, Amansie East, Asante Akim North and South, Atwima Nwabiagya, Wassa Amenfi West, Aowin Suaman, and Kwaebibrirem Districts. Miss Patience Dapaah, Communication Officer in-charge of National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPECLC) of the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment announced this at a day's workshop on child labour at Offinso in Ashanti on Thursday.

The workshop organised by the Ministry, was sponsored by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to eliminate worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector by 2011.

She said the Ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the 11 districts to initiate action plans to curb child labour, while efforts were being made to solicit for more funds for the remaining 35 cocoa growing districts where child labour was predominant. Mr Eric Appiah Okrah, Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF, disclosed that UNICEF would spend 40,000 Ghana cedis to sponsor sensitization workshops in the 46 cocoa growing districts in the country.

Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, Offinso District Chief Executive, said the district had for the past two years nursed about 1.7 million seedlings of cocoa, citrus and oil palm for distribution to interested farmers for planting.

He said arrangements were far advanced to establish committees to fight child labour in the district and called on assembly members, unit Committees, and other stakeholders to ensure total elimination of child labour in the district.