Sheaga(U/E), Oct 10, GNA - Basic school children in the Upper East Region have called on Parliament to pass a law to stop child labour in the country.

They said this at a symposium organised by the Upper East Child Protection Network with sponsorship from UNICEF.

Master Eric Ayine, a 14-year-old form two student of the Sacred Heart Junior High School, Sheega, said some of the common child labours in the Region include the engagement of children in mining, stone quarrying, ritual servitude, sexual exploitation, potters of heavy loads, street hawking and begging.

"All these negative practices impede our growth and education since most of our colleagues who were engaged in these dangerous activities are mostly affected with illness while others do not attend school regularly or even withdraw from school to engage in such practices to support the family." Master Ayine suggested that to curb the problem there was the urgent need for Parliament to come out with a law that would help address the issues. He said if this was not done the future of the country would be doomed since the youth who are supposed to be groomed to become responsible leaders are engaged in child labour and not education.

Master Abdul Hamidu Ibrahim, a 16-year-old student from Tahiriya Junior High School, expressed regret at the way some children were engaged by butchers in the Region and said some school children had stopped schooling as a result of that.

He said in the Zongo Community in Bolgatanga where he comes from many parents had refused to send their children to school but rather send them to learn vocations such as carpentry and tailoring. "The worst part of it is that some Muslim parents send their children out there to beg for alms at the expense of their education, Master Ibrahim said. He called on the law enforcement agencies to deal with parents who refuse to take care of their children to serve as a deterrent to others. Master Ibrahim also called on the government and other NGOs to provide livelihoods support to women to undertake viable economic activities.

Mrs Gladys Seidu, the Girl Child Education Officer, said with the numerous interventions including the school feeding programme, capitation grants, free school uniforms and exercise books, there was no reason for parents to allow their children to be engaged in child labour. 10 Oct 11