COCOBOD allocates GH¢1.3m to fight child labour

Kumasi, Aug. 5, GNA - Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has allocated GH¢1.3 million to eliminate worst forms of child labour in 47 selected cocoa growing districts in the country. Mr Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, who announced this, said the Ministry was also supporting the effort with the distribution of 48 motor bikes, 1,000 bicycles, 67 computers and 61 printers to equip Municipal and District Assemblies. He said this at the opening of a two-day sensitization workshop on the elimination of worst forms of child labour organized for Municipal and District Chief Executives in Kumasi on Wednesday. The Ministry, he said, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with all the 47 selected assemblies and 18 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO'S) to support the implementation of their action plans.

He said the target was to cover all cocoa growing districts by the year 2010 and expressed the confidence that it would help to improve the situation. Mr Tony Fofie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the COCOBOD in a speech read on his behalf, hoped that the funds would help to increase awareness on child labour issues so as to change the attitude of farmers and parents.

He reiterated the determination of the Board to assist with the establishment of Community Based Child Labour Monitoring Systems (CCLM's) to provide data on activities of children in cocoa growing areas to ensure that children were not exploited. Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, advised the participants to fully back the implementation of the action plans to ensure total elimination of child labour. Mrs Rita Owusu-Amankwah, National Programme Manager for the National Programme to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa (NPECLC), noted that the CCLM's would promote an integrated approach to child development in the country. 5 Aug. 09