ILO commends Ghana's efforts on child labour

Denu, May 9, GNA - The International Labour Organization (ILO) says it is pleased with Ghana's track record in the fight against the elimination of child labour in the country.

Mr Emmanuel Mensah, a Project Officer of the ILO noted that aside the ratification of international conventions on child labour and abuse, the country's legislations and other platforms including the current poverty reduction scheme phase, had an aspect of child labour eradication and child development in it.


He was speaking at a two-day orientation workshop for the newly constituted Ketu District Child Labour Committee for the eradication of the problems in the district under an ILO project on Monday at Denu. Mr Mensah, however, lamented the slow pace of the application of anti child labour legislation for the prosecution of offenders and said the ILO would support making the law bite.


The 15-member committee is made up of selected heads of departments and agencies including the police and social welfare. Mr Mensah said the wrongful prioritisation of the immediate "mega benefits" in child labour at the expense of their education and future needed to be reversed through awareness creation, social mobilization, and participation of communities in the fight.

Miss Stella Ofori, Department of Labour, Ministry Labour and Manpower Development, said light daily duties the child provided in the family without jeopardizing his education did not constitute child labour.


Mr Divine Ayidzoe, Ketu District Coordinating Director, who is also a committee member, noted that child labour and trafficking were critical issues in the district and welcomed the ILO intervention, saying it needed to be supported by all. 09 May 06