A four-day technical assistance workshop for implementing agencies and key partners on coordination and capacity needs assessment for International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) constituents is underway at Agona Swedru.
The workshop was to assess capacity of partners for coordination of ILO projects in Ghana to contribute to the overall capacity assessment.
In addition, it was to develop a list of ideas on initiatives that would promote coordination and integration towards elimination of child labour in Ghana.
Mr Stephen McClelland, Chief Technical Advisor, ILO Ghana, commended the government of Ghana, social partners and key stakeholders for the effort made so far on the global map to eliminate child labour.
He said currently, ILO supports the implementation of the National Plan of Action (NPA) with projects including: ECOWAS I and II, Cocoa Community Project and Public Private Partnership.
The NPA is aimed at promoting a more coordinated effort towards the elimination of worst forms of child labour by 2015.
It is also to provide an integrated framework for harmonizing all relevant actions by different partners in order to tackle the problem in a well-coordinated and sustained manner.
He noted that: “the above projects will promote poverty reduction through improved productivity and enhanced livelihood, strengthen participation and national ownership, encourage social dialogue and accelerated commitment to international labour standards.”
He expressed the hope that with greater coordination of collective efforts the country would achieve significant strides in the fight against the menace.
Mr Stella Dzator, National Programme Officer, ILO, Cocoa Community Project, said it was possible to eliminate child labour through systemically implemented interventions.
She said the project in Cocoa growing communities focuses on integrated area base approach for implementing strategies to prevent, remove and protection children in child labour.
