Ghana strengthens child labour monitoring

Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - A database system for monitoring and tracking information on child labour issues in Ghana was launched in Accra on Friday with a call on various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies not to compromise on canker.

The Child Labour Monitoring System (CLMS) would facilitate effective child labour interventions by identifying child labourers and linking them to satisfactory and sustainable alternatives such as schooling and skills training.

Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, who launched the programme, said CLMS was a tool that would enable government take action against child labour.

He noted that there had been several actions taken by various non- governmental organisations, civil society organisations, government agencies and other corporate bodies towards eliminating child labour, however, there was the lack of coordination among the organisations.

The CLMS is integrating all those efforts into one action to ensure a more effective fight against all forms of child labour.

The Sector Minister stressed the need for all partners to actively engage in the programme to realise the desired objective of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2015.

He said the Ministry had put in place a strategy that would ensure the effective implementation of the programme.

Mr. Francesco d' Ovidio, Chief Technical Adviser at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said child labour was a major developmental and human rights issue since it deprived children the opportunity to quality education needed to grow into responsible adults.

He said Ghana was one of the countries in Africa that had taken steps to attain the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour by 2015 and commended formulation of the National Plan of Action.

Mr. d'Ovidio advised government to place child labour issues high on government's agenda with the CLMS as the ultimate tool to combat child labour in an effective and sustainable way as it allowed countries to independently monitor the evolution of child labour and plan accordingly.

The ILO joined the United States Embassy, United Nations Children's Fund, Ghana Trades Union Congress, and Ghana Employers' Association to pledge their support for the programme.