BY MALEK APPIAH AFFUM
A mock parliament of children from two Rights and Responsibilities Clubs (RRCs) in the Tano South and Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa Districts was held in Accra on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, during the close-out ceremony of the Care Adwuma Pa project.
The ‘Children’s Parliament’ is one of the child participation tools Child Rights International, Ghana (CRI) employs to empower children to voice their concerns and recommend solutions to community, district, regional, and national issues affecting their lives and well-being.
Ahead of today’s presentation of the 2024 Budget Statement, the ‘parliament’ served as a platform for the school children to deliberate on their concerns and make proposals for government intervention.
The House, presided over by the ‘Speaker,’ Miss Diana Ntiriwaa from Tano South Municipal, Bechem, considered petitions on child abuse from their communities, its causes, and negative impact.
The Minority caucus was led by Miss Hannah Danquah from the Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa District. Other members were Miss Asuobonteng Christabel, Miss Amanda Osei and Miss Fuseina Amfoh.
Miss Latifatu Iddrissu from Tano South Municipal (Bechem) was the Majority leader. With her were Miss Ruth Adjei, Miss Esther Asibuo, Miss Gloria Botwey, and Miss Elizabeth Ampiaw.
During the deliberations, Miss Danquah called on the Minister of Finance to prioritize child protection in the 2024 Budget Statement or incur their wrath for paying lip service to the issue of child labour.
She recalled that Ghana launched a new action plan dubbed the Ghana Accelerated Action Plan Against Child Labour 2023 – 2027 early this year during which it reiterated its commitment to fully implementing the new action plan against the eradication of child labour.
For her part, the Majority leader, Miss Iddrisu concurred with the Minority leader, adding that they would hold the government to account since child labour was an issue of concern to every Ghanaian child.
At the end of the deliberations, the House called for the intensification of community engagement programs on child labour, the creation of awareness through pictures and stickers on child labour at vantage points and on community buildings as well as prescribing punishment for child labour offenses to deter others from indulging in the act.
The child parliamentarians were in the care of Madam Esther Assilfie Danquah from Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa, Madam Justina Agyemang from Tano South Municipal, and CRI Officer, Mr Ebenezer Boadu.
The Care Adwuma Pa project close-out ceremony was an opportunity to reflect on the project’s achievements, challenges, and lessons. The project sought to reduce the risk of child and forced labor, and other exploitative labor practices by improving the economic participation and empowerment of women and girls within Ghana’s cocoa supply chain.
With funding from the United States Department of Labor/Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the Adwuma Pa project was implemented in collaboration with Child Rights International, Ghana, Youth Opportunity for Transformation in Africa (YOTA) and Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) in Bibiani/Anwiaso/Bekwai in the Western North Region, Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa in the Central Region, Tano South and Asunafo North in the Ahafo Region.
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