President Nana Akufo-Addo has underscored the need for Ghana to intensify the fight against child labour. Delivering his speech at the 2017 May Day Celebration, the president warned that, Ghana could face sanctions by its global agencies.
He said, ‘’It is worth pointing out that, if we do not stop these shameful practices, there are global agencies that have determined to institute punitive measures against us in some critical industries, which would lead to the loss of markets for our goods and the loss of jobs.’’
He also gave the assurance that his administration will work together with all stakeholders to bring an end to the shameful phenomenon.
‘’Under my watch, government will work with all partners towards the goal of eliminating child labour. We will work to ensure that our children do not work under hazardous conditions to support themselves and their families. We will work to eliminate, in particular, the disgraceful practice of forcing children into fishing and illegal mining activities, ’’ the president assured.
He was responding to a concern raised by the TUC’s General Secretary on the negative of child labour and the need for government to address it.
‘’The TUC Secretary General in his speech alluded to the sad issue of child labour, and especially its manifestation in some key sectors of our economy. It is a shameful phenomenon and an indictment on all of us, and it is time to stop hiding under a so-calpled cultural practice to find excuses. Children are children; they are our most important asset and deserve to be protected from being exploited in the labour field,’’ he said.
He added: ‘’It is important to keep reminding ourselves that child labour and child trafficking are not only crimes, but also now pose veritable threats to our national security. We all have a responsibility to protect our children from the criminality of child labour. Let me at this stage acknowledge the efforts of my wife, Rebecca, for the determined manner in which she is speaking out against the evil of child labour and child trafficking, and for the memorandum she has signed with her counterpart in Cote d’Ivoire to this effect.’’
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