GNCRC contributes to fight against child labour

The Ghana NGOs Coalition on the Rights of the Child (GNCRC) is contributing to the implementation of the National Plan of Action on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

The implementation started in 2009 and was led by the Ministry of Employment and labour Relations to help abolish totally the worst forms of child labour.

Currently, global estimates by the International Labour Organisation indicates that more than 168 million people constituting 11 percent of child population are involved in the child labour.

According to Mr Barima Kwasi Amankwaah, Programme Officer of the GNCRC, Child labour is an infringement on the rights of children against international standards.

Speaking at a seminar in Accra Tuesday, he noted that, child labour goes a long way to perpetuate the cycle of poverty in the family and also creates loss of human capital for national development.

The seminar was on the theme: “Fighting child labour in Ghana; engaging informal sector employers.”

“Most child labour occurs in the informal sector, where employment is largely unregulated and children are exploited for their vulnerability,” he added.

Mr Amankwaah said GNCRC as a member of the Social Mobilisation Partners against Child Labour Network has the opportunity to connect with other agencies such as the Trade Union Congress, Ghana Employers Association and Ghana Journalists Association, to enhance interaction for effective delivery.

Mr Kofi Kumah, National Coordinator of GNCRC urged human rights advocates and other stakeholders to support the government to eliminate child labour to help build a better Ghana.