World child labour day marked in Obuasi

The Obuasi Municipality Assembly on Monday, 13th June 2016 joined residents of Odumase in the Obuasi Municipality to celebrate the year’s edition of World Child Labour Day. The World Child Labor Day is celebrated globally to end child labour, a situation predominant in most developing countries.

The programme which was under the theme ‘’End Child Labor in Supply Chains; its everyone’s business was chaired by the Gyaasehene of Odumase; Nana Atta Asare II. He expressed gratitude to the Obuasi Municipal Assembly for selecting Odumase as the host of this year’s event. He appealed to the Government to intervene in matters affecting the Odumase community. He mentioned the introduction of school feeding programme, footwear for school children and renovation of school blocks as issues of great concern to the community.

In his speech, the Municipal Chief Executive for Obuasi, Honourable Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi emphasized the need for school children to take their education seriously as it is the only means to have an assured future. Using his personal experience as an example, the aspiring Member of Parliament for the Obuasi East Constituency encouraged school children to rise above all odds to achieve quality education. He promised to address the grievances expressed by the Gyaasehene.

Mr. Rexford Asubonteng, the Municipal Labour Officer explained that a child, according to Act 1998, clause 560 of the 1992 constitution is a person who is below the age of eighteen (18) who needs parental guidance and control to acquire his or her needs in life. He advised parents that,

Irrespective of the economic hardship, they should not expose their children to activities such as galamsey, sex trade and other equally dangerous activities can be detrimental to their growth and general wellbeing.Talking about child labour and its consequences on children, the Municipal Girls Officer, Mrs. Hannah Adjei stressed the importance of child education and said that, “it is the only panacea to poverty and high dependency burden in our communities.” She also advised the school children present to take their education serious so as to be responsible people in future.

In attendance were the Divisional Police Commander ACP Afful Boakye Yiadom, Mr. Anthony Maxwell Amoako, the Municipal Director of Education, Traditional leaders, Officers from the Municipal Education Directorate, Officers from the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, Teachers and Pupils from invited schools and the media.

SIGNED

(SAMPSON MANU)

MUNICIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER

THE REGIONAL INFORMATION OFFICER

INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT

KUMASI

Cc: The Ag. Director

Information Department

Accra

The Municipal Chief Executive

Obuasi Municipal Assembly

Obuasi.