The World Day Against Child Labour 2021 was marked with a durbar on June 11, 2021 at Adiembra in the West Akyem Municipality in the Eastern Region. The day was set aside by the ILO in 2002 to raise awareness about the harmful mental and physical problems faced by children forced into child labour. The day brings together government officials, local authorities, civil society, etc to point out the child labour problem and find solutions to deal with them. This year’s theme was “Act now: End Child Labour!

The chairman for the occasion was Nana Baffour Awuah, the Odikro of Adiembra, who regretted that he could not climb higher on the educational ladder due to his engagement in child labour by his parents who were ignorant about the dangers of child labour. He urged parents to pay heed to the call by government and non-governmental oragnizations like Child Rights International to #EndChildLabour and educate their children to acquire knowledge and skills to be useful to them and to the country.

Ms. Cynthia Dansoa, the Girl Child Coordinator of the Ghana Education Service in Asamankese also explained the differences between child work, child labour and hazardous child labour to the gathering.

The Cocoa Corperative Secretary, Mr. Bennette Kwasi Adu, advised parents to strive to cater for their children. “Children are not supposed to cater for themselves”, he said, adding that most parents allow this practice to persist due to ignorance.

Members of the Adiembra Child Rights and Reading Club entertained the gathering with a drama performance on the dangers of child labour whiles their friends from Abamkrom Cultural Troupe performed traditional drumming and dancing amidst singing.

The Assemblyman for the area, Hon. Karim Adams, pledged his support for the Community Child Protection Community to ensure parents do not engage their children in work during school hours.

Mr. Francis Opoku Nsiah of the Department of Social Development, entreated the Community Child Protection Committee (#CCPC) to report any child abuse case to their office as well as parents who are negligent of their responsibility towards their children to their office for the law to deal with them.