LET'S STOP CHILD LABOUR NOW.

By : ELIZABETH BAAH ARKOFUL

Child labour is fast becoming a menace in sub-Saharan Africa of which Ghana is no exception. This practice has gained notoriety in the country more especially in the coastal communities, where fishing is the main occupation  and also in cocoa growing areas where the people are predominantly farmers. According to the UN, a child whose age is between 18 years should not be subjected to any hard form of labour.

The 1992 constitution of the republic of Ghana state emphatically  that, every child has the right to be protected from engaging in work that constitutes a threat to his or her health, education and development. Article 3 of  international labour organization(ILO) convention No 182 states that children do suffer or fall victim to child labour due  to poverty, parental illiteracy ,ignorance of some parents about the adverse consequences of child labour and also ineffective enforcement of legal provisions pertaining to the said situation. Besides, a child should not be subjected to fortune or other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In that same manner, children should be given special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards and the like. This is because health experts especially, say tedious work can affect  a child mentally, physically, emotionally and social capabilities. Vulnerable children are those from poor homes have mostly fallen victims to child labour and abuse. In our part of the world, child labour continues to deprive thousands of children the golden opportunity of accessing  formal education, which is presumed to be the back bone of every successful nation.

For a nation such as Ghana to grow and be productive in all spheres of human endeavor, parents, especially   should play their role in raising responsible leaders for the next generation. Therefore, children should be given the necessary attention, care and above all quality education to help in the realization of their full potentials. Ghana needs productive citizens for her to grow. I hope the authorities would enforce the laws to make Ghana a better place for children.