Obuasi (Ash), Sept 5, GNA - Civil society as well as community and opinion leaders in Obuasi have described as "morally unacceptable" a section of the Children's Act that permits 16 year-olds to engage in sex upon consent, but could only marry after attaining 18 years. They contended that young girls were usually sexually abused, resulting in teenage pregnancies, single parenthood, depression and helplessness.

In their submissions at the end of a day's workshop at Obuasi on Tuesday, the groups called for an amendment to the section of the Children's Act 560 to protect the well being of 16 year-old girls. The workshop discussed "Child Labour," and was organized by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)-Ghana with funding by International Labour Organisation and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour.

Miss Eudora Christiana Oppong, Ashanti Regional Administrator of FIDA-Ghana, explained that the workshop was aimed at empowering the participants to act as a vital force in the fight against the worst form of labour in their communities.

She observed that the high rate of reported cases of child abuse have contributed to behavioural troubles and social maladjustment among the youth, leading to delinquency, social misfits and criminals with the attendant socio-economic consequences on the country.

Citing official data, Miss Oppong expressed regret that 12.3 per cent girls as against 9.8 per cent of boys were victims of the worst form of child labour.

Mr James Mensah Kulley, a legal practitioner, stated that children should be protected from torture and degrading treatments, adding, "no child shall be made to suffer any form of abuse or undergo any form of cultural practice that causes harm".

Miss Grace Oppong of the Attorney General's Department, said contrary to the provision of the Children's Act, some children worked at night in drinking bars and other night clubs and noted that such unhealthy environments led some of the girls into prostitution and some boys also becoming pimps and drug peddlers.