Savelugu (N/R), June 12, GNA – Pupils from selected basic schools in the Savelugu Municipality on Wednesday marked this year’s World Day Against Child Labour by staging a drama on the dangers of child marriages and the need to stop the practice to enable girls to acquire education.
The drama depicted problems married girls went through as child mothers and the effects on their families and society, and why it was important to stop early marriages.
This year’s World Day Against Child Labour, held at Savelugu, in the Northern Region, was organised by child-centred NGOs including Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), World Vision Ghana, Right To Play, RAINS, and the Department of Children, Northern Region.
The Day was instituted by the International Labour Organisation, and marked on June 12, every year, to highlight issues of child labour and efforts being made to eliminate it.
The recent Ghana Labour Standards Survey (GLSS-6) shows that 21.8 per cent representing 1.9 million children aged between five and 17 years are engaged in child labour and extremely dangerous hazardous work.
Miss Sarefina Akisichab, a Pupil and Member of the Pong Tamale Child Parliament, who read a speech on behalf of children, said “It is important for children to participate in work but it should not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling”.
Ms Akisichab said “Children can participate in activities such as helping their parents around the house, assisting in family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to our development and to the welfare of our families”.
She, therefore, called for immediate action from the Assembly, duty-bearers, opinion leaders, faith leaders, teachers, parents and guardians to get firmly on track towards eliminating child labour.
Mr Felix Apeti, Acting Regional Operations Manager, World Vision Ghana underscored the need for all especially parents to support their children to realise their potentials expressing need for the country to rigorously implement the policies on children to protect their interest and welfare in society.
The CCFC, in a statement, also called on all to work at removing systemic barriers that prevented children from achieving their potentials.
GNA
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