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‘2 c’nities identified as hotspots for child labour in Bono’
Kwatiri and Adentia, two farming communities in the Sunyani West Municipality, have been identified as hotspots for child labour in the Bono Region.
The areas are also a hotbed for teenage pregnancies and school dropouts among children under 18 years, necessitating traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals to join hands to tackle the challenges.
The Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Senior Programme Officer for General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) of TUC, Paschal Ajongba Kaba disclosed these on the sidelines of the inauguration of a 14-member committee setup by GAWU to spearhead a campaign against child labour in the two communities, to mark this year’s World Day Against Child Labour, at Kwatiri.
Although Mr Kaba could not provide statistics to back his claim, he noted that efforts were underway to implement programmes and policies geared towards eliminating the child labour and teenage pregnancy in the three regions.
He stated that child labour was very high in mining and cocoa producing communities, and called on all stakeholders, especially parents, to play their part to address the issue.
The Regional Senior Programme Officer for GAWU of TUC said his outfit had taken upon itself to help minimize child labour by creating a Child Labour Free Zone in the country.
The Chairman of one of the Committees, who is also the Krontihene of Adantia, Nana Kwame Boakye, said the was urgent need to tackle child labour and teenage pregnancy as they continued to affect development.
A teacher at Kwatiri, M/A School, Alex Appau, noted that some primary (class) six and Junior High School (JHS) students dropped out of school and found themselves in ‘child labour and pregnancy,’ due to financial constraints..
World Day Against Child Labour focuses on the negative impact of child labour. Globally, it is estimated 151 million children are involved in child labour with about 71 percent in the agriculture sector.
FROM: DANIEL DZIRASAH, ODUMASE
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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