NGO inaugurates boat to protect children on Volta Lake

Winneba, March 4, GNA - Challenging Heights, a non-governmental organisation in Winneba that campaigns against the exploitation of childr= en, has inaugurated a boat on the Volta Lake to protect women and children. The boat, based at Yeji, has a capacity to carry 25 passengers and i= s fitted with two outboard motors and 23 life jackets, all costing 13,900 dollars.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency in Winneba on Wednesday the Executive Director of the NGO, Mr James Annan, said the aim of acquiring the boat t= hat was inaugurated last week was to protect women and children on the Volta Lake. It would also supplement the efforts of government in preventing boa= t disasters on the lake by checking overloading.

He said the NGO would use the boat to rescue children who go fishing= in Volta Lake and monitor the use of children for exploitative labour. Mr Annan said during the inaugural expedition of the boat, six child= ren were rescued from Adaa and Afenyo Acura villages on the Yeji side of the Lake.

He said the boat would be made available to rescuers in the event of disasters or emergencies on the lake. It will also be used to educate fishermen against the use of children in fishing.