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Worrying trend at Wromso: School children used as scarecrow on rice farms
Children are being used as scarescrow
School children in the Wromso community in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region are being used as scarecrow in the cultivation of rice in the area.
The children are used to drive away the crows from feeding on the rice.
They would never go to schoool until the rice starts tassling.
Apart from impacting negatively on education, the development has also compounded the issue of child labour in the community.
These came to light at a gathering of the Chiefs and people of Wromso to mark this year’s International Day Against Child Labour.
It was organised by Nature Aid Ghana in collaboration with the Asutifi South District Assembly under the theme, “Intensify Action Against Child Labour,Do It Fast, Do it Now”, with support from the DKA Austria.
According to the Head Teacher of the Wromso D/A Basic School, Mr Salifu Awuni, the situation was very disturbing as the children could stay away from school sometimes for three weeks or a month.
He said “This is affecting learning because by the time they return to school, about three topics have already been treated which they find difficult to catch up”.
According to Mr. Awuni the parents were ignorant of the concept of child-labour “because they feel that it is normal for the children to be part of the labour force”.
He called on stakeholders to intensify child-labour education in the community for the sake of the children’s bright future.
Mr. Matthew Ofosu Fosuhene, Head Teacher of the Wromso Junior High School also expressed similar concern and did not understand why children of school going age were being used for hunting and illegal gold mining, popularly called “galamsey” .
“Sometimes, we have to go round the community to chase school children from the farms and galamsey sites, all in the name of protecting their future, but it’s very difficult to get them to understand the concept of child-labour”.
Ms. Martha Irene Plange, Asutifi South District Director of Social Welfare, said her outfit had intensified education on child labour to enable parents appreciate education in the community as she took the gathering through the concept of child-labour.
The Chief of Wromso, Nana Essilfie Gyimah Dadieko III, commended the organisers of the meeting for shedding light on child labour which he said was a headache in the area.
He told the gathering how child-labour nearly affected the purchase of cocoa beans from Ghana at the international market, and pledged to support all stakeholders in the fight against the canker in the community.
The District Chief Executive, Robert Dwomoh Mensah,said that parents would give many reasons to justify child-labour “but the consequences will be very enormous”.
He appealed to the parents to see the importance of education, as he inaugurated a Community Child Protection Committee to monitor children of school going age to ensure they do not engage in forced labour.
Mr. Joseph Baradoe,Chief Executive Officer of Nature Aid Ghana, said efforts were being made to protect the rights of children in the community.
He said they had linked up with the District Assemblies and the Cocoa Licensed Buying Companies(LBCs) to get them appreciate the human rights of the children being used in forced labour and thanked the DKA Austria for funding the programme.
From Kingsley E.Hope, Wromso
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
