Regional News of Monday, 26 September 2011

Source: GNA

Cocoa farmers ask to shy away from child labour

Twifo-Hemang (C/R), Sept. 26, GNA - Mr Ben Ankomah-Sey, Twifo-Heman-Lower Denyira District Officer of the Quality Control Board of Ghana Cocoa Board has appealed to farmers not to exploit the labour of their under- age children in their farms.

He made the appeal when he addressed a forum organised by his outfit to educate farmers on the effects of child labour.

The forum was attended by more than 100 cocoa farmers from the District.

Mr Ankomah-Sey, said child labour is a human right violation which attracts the blacklisting of the International Labour Organisation.

He advised the farmers to refrain from the use of unapproved chemicals in spraying their cocoa farms and report people who sell those illegal agro-chemicals to the law enforcement agencies.

Mr Joseph Foster Andoh, District Chief Executive reiterated the advice to the farmers not to engage under-age children in their plantations, cautioning them that whoever is found culpable would face the law.

Mr Emmanuel Acquaye, District Agriculture Officer asked the farmers to observe good agricultural practices in order to increase production.

During the open forum, majority of the farmers expressed concern over the high prices of fertilizer and appealed to the Government to help reverse the situation.