This, according to the organisation, will augment government’s efforts in the fight against child labour in Ghana.

[contextly_sidebar id=”F0zHhc7qOVbiNlfuxidheGEfCeHRrAwM”]The organisation, which works with the cocoa industry, civil societies, farmers’ organisations, international organisations and national governments in cocoa-producing countries, said it is committed to ensuring a better future for children and to advance the elimination of child labour.

The ICI is targeting to protect one million children within cocoa growing communities in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire against child labour by 2020.

ICI has been engaging with some farmers in Cocoa growing communities in the Western Region, who have also pledged their support to fight against child labour in the country.

The farmers have begun mobilizing themselves and are intensifying awareness in cocoa growing areas where the practice is rife.

Most of the farmers who were unaware of the consequences of the practice, are beginning to desist from it.

Cocoa farmers from Kofi krom, Kramokrom, Nyame Nnae, Ankra Muano and Abonse, all in the Western Region, said they are making strides in the fight against child labour in cocoa production.

According to the farmers, child labour issues have reduced in their respective communities with the setting up of Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs).

Abanga Mordecai, a teacher at the Abonse M/A primary school in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality narrated how child labour issues affected enrollment at the school.

He said an intervention by ICI to build the capacities of members of the CCPCs to enable them create awareness, and also monitor child labour issues in their areas has yielded positive results.

“When ICI came to us, they made us understand that it is the right of the child to go to school no matter the condition. So we should embark on a campaign to educate the parents how dangerous it is when the child is involved in farming and the labour work that is beyond the child’s strength. Before 2015, our school enrollment was about 90 from K.G 1 up to class six. But right now we can boast of 200 students because of the intervention by the ICI”.

A female cocoa farmer from Ankra Muano, Lydia Adu, said the intervention has helped in the reduction of child labour in cocoa production.

She said most of the children are now enlightened on child labour issues and are not allowing parents to use them on cocoa farms to the detriment of their education.

At a three-day child labour training for selected journalists and a talk shop with cocoa growing communities in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality of the Western Region, Communication Specialist at the Cocoa International Initiative (ICI), Irene Ofosu-Ennin, urged the media to report more on child labour issues.

She indicated that, because child labour is a social issue, the ICI has employed awareness raising strategies to empower the community members who will also educate other farmers on the dangers of child labour.

Ms. Ofosu-Ennin said ICI will continue to improve the lives of children in cocoa growing communities, safeguard their rights and contribute to the elimination of child labour.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ICI targets saving a million children from child labour by 2020 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The journalists, drawn from Accra and within Assin Fosu, were also schooled on the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) to aid in their effective reportage of the nationwide menace.

The Deputy Country Coordinator of ICI, Prince Gyamfi, addressing the over twenty participating journalists, lamented the ineffective implementation of laws protecting children, citing politics as the major cause.

“The fact that Ghana has ratified various international conventions and enacted laws on the rights of children does not translate to the enjoyment of these laws in Ghana. There are thousands of children whose rights are being violated as these are our future leaders. We don’t have to continue to just make laws, we must ensure they work,” he said.

“Many politicians consider whether or not they would be voted for after they see to the enforcement of laws protecting children against child labour. Many of them also think child labour does not exist; yet these are the very people who must enforce the laws. Then again, the institutions and agencies mandated to enforce these laws are also weak. They lack the capacity and resources to do their work. So these are some of the things that prevent the implementation of these policies.” he added.

One of the participating journalists, Akosua of Rich FM in Assin Fosu, speaking to citifmonline.com after the workshop, said the program was helpful.

“This program has been very helpful to me in the sense that although I know about child labour, I didn’t really know the difference between child labour and child work, but now I know that,” she said.

Another journalist, Apostle, of Splash FM also in Assin Fosu, said ICI must be lauded for the workshop.

“The International Cocoa Initiative has really done well. They have taught us how we can report on child labour and we’ve been able to differentiate between child labour and child work,” he said.

A third journalist, Raissa, who is with the Ghanaian Times newspaper in Accra, stressed on the need for the government to play its role in the eradication of child labour throughout Ghana.

“This workshop has been very beneficial because despite the fact that I know what child labour is, I have realised how serious the issue is. I want to appeal to authorities to implement policies that will help reduce child labour in this country because having 1.9 million child labourers in Ghana alone is heart-breaking. Children are our future leaders and so it is very important that government addresses the issue of child labour in this country,” she said.

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By: Akosua Ofewaa Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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