NGO rescues 31 children under bondage

Atitekpo (V/R), Jan. 7, GNA - The Association of People for Practical Life Education (APPLE), an anti-child trafficking non-governmental organisation (NGO), would soon embark on advocacy programme to educate child trafficking endemic communities on the Child Trafficking Act, particularly in the Central, Volta and Brong Ahafo regions. The project is aimed at contributing to the enforcement of the law by empowering parents, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to partner government in the fight against the practice.

Mr. James Jack Dawson, Executive Director of APPLE made this known at Atitekpo in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region at a re-integration programme organised by the NGO for 31 children rescued from bonded child labour to their parents in the Volta Region.

The children comprising 19 males and 12 females between the ages of 5 to 16 years were rescued from seven communities in Yeji who were mainly being used by fishermen who claimed they 'paid' for their services. The Executive Director said for about two years the NGO, with the support from international donors; Free the Slaves, re-integrated 106 children made up of 46 boys and 60 girls back to their communities.

He said the Association in collaboration with opinion leaders, unit committees and city coordinators used information, education and persuasion to get the fishermen to voluntarily release the children. The Executive Director advised parents to note that there was a law that prohibited child labour and child trafficking.

Mr Dawson said the Rights and Voice Initiative through the Department for International Development had also come on board to assist in the programme.