Kumasi, June 19, GNA - Defence for Children International (DCI), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has expressed worry over the increasing incidence at which minors were being hired as motorcycle riders for commercial purposes.
Dr George Oppong, the Executive-Director, said the practice was prevalent, particularly in small-scale business enclaves and the markets adding that the lives of those minors were also in danger as they hardly wore any protective clothes or helmets.
He called on the police to be resolute in dealing with this concern as it was illegal and an abuse of the rights of minors.
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the commemoration of the 2017 International Day of Child Labour, at the Sokoban Wood Village, Kumasi.
The event was held under the theme: “World Day against Child Labour”.
Participants at the event included representatives from the Department of Gender, Department of Children, as well as the Labour Department and Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, who all took turns to advise the wood workers to be wary of engaging minors as workers.
The Day is marked annually to focus attention on child labour and efforts being made to eliminate it.
This year’s event is being marked with particular concentration on the impact of conflicts and disasters on child labour.
Dr Oppong said through its joint campaigns with civil-society organizations, the needed awareness on the harmful effects of child labour and trafficking has been created in many communities in the country.
He said child labour deprived minors of their dignity as it hampered their physical growth, as well as educational and career-development, saying many children are forced work and were exposed to all kinds of danger.
The Reverend Stephen Darfour, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Children, urged the public to report to the police any incidence of child labour activities.
Mr Raphael Samaglo, Coordinator of the Wood Village Workers’ Association (WVWA), said the leadership was working hard to ensure that minors are not engaged in the enclave.
GNA
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