The Commission for Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ) has urged parents to take advantage of the government's social interventions to curb child labour issues.
Some of the interventions include the Free Senior High School, Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) as well as small loans from the Assemblies or Microfinance and Loans Centre (MASLOG), are some of the interventions parents should take advantage of to empower their children.
Madam Fatimata Mahami, CHRAJ Tema Regional Manager said parents did not to be financially stable to provide for the health, education, and developmental needs of the child “It is a responsibility”.
Madam Mahami stated at the Ghana News Agency-Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom Dialogue platform during a discussion on preparations for the commemoration of the 2022 International Day Against Child Labour.
The day which is celebrated annually on June 12, will this year be observed on the theme: “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour.” CHRAJ and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations are collaborating for the celebration in Ghana.
She mentioned that one of the causes of child labour in the country was poverty, and such interventions from the government were to eradicate poverty “If you fall into such category, take advantage of it.”
Madam Mahami indicated that, because most parents did not have the means of catering for the needs of their children, they tended to engage them in activities which they were not fully developed for.
The Tema CHRAJ Regional Director urged those in the farming communities to get involved in the planting for food and jobs initiatives to raise more revenue to provide for the needs of their children.
Madam Mahami said the commission had done a lot of sensitization and created enough platforms to highlight the dangers associated with child labour and charged parents to play their roles in protecting their children.
Mr Francis Ameyibor, Tema Regional Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said children both the less privileged and affluent needed to be protected.
He added that the media must be proactively engaged in the fight against child labour and advised the media to be cautious in its reportage, especially in cases where minors are involved.
Mr Ameyibor explained that both the traditional and social media have a significant role to play in mobilizing the people against exploiting children and forcing them into child labour, especially in a hazardous environment.