Ghana declares first child labor-free zones in three cocoa farming communities
via GhanaWeb3 min read
Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, has designated Kuffuor Camp and Subri in the Atwima Mponua and Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai Districts as Ghana's inaugural Child Labour-Free Zones. This initiative, described as a community-driven approach, aims to eliminate child labor, particularly in cocoa production. The Minister noted that assessments showed Subri scored 77.7% and Kuffuor Camp 83.62%, achieving Grade B status. He highlighted the "umbrella cover" approach for broader implementation and thanked the Government of Japan for its financial and logistical support. Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Minister, emphasized the need for collaboration among communities, parents, and chiefs to safeguard children's rights and commended the efforts of the sector Minister, the Japan Embassy, and JICA. Mr. Sebastian Obeng, Municipal Chief Executive for Bibiani Anwiaso Bekwai, speaking on behalf of the Western North Regional Minister, stressed that the fight against child labor requires collective effort from religious and traditional leaders, teachers, and all stakeholders. A representative of Oheneba Nana Kwame Akoto, the Nkawiehene, praised CRADA and JICA for educating farmers on the importance of moving children from farms to schools. Representatives from the Japanese Embassy and JICA reiterated the importance of protecting children and supporting their education, with JICA noting its support for child labor initiatives since 2018.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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