Elmina (Central Region), 11 Jan. '99 -

The Children's Bill, which has now been signed into law by President Jerry John Rawlings prohibits the practice of employing children under 18 years of age from going fishing. Nana Ato Dadzie, Acting Chief of Staff, Office of the President, who stated this said the new law is explicitly against such a practice since "children under 18 years are expected to be in school". He was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Edina Traditional area at Elmina on Saturday to climax the celebration of their annual "Edina Buronya Festival". The festival is an occasion for them to remember their ancestors, settle family squabbles and promote reconciliation. Nana Dadzie said although public debate on the Bill focused more on the minimum marriageable age, the legislation affects the Ghanaian society at large and safeguards the healthy growth and development of the child in a dignified manner. "Care and protection of children, fostering and adoption of children, child labour and apprenticeship", are some of the salient components of the law. He called on the social services sub-committee of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem district assembly to procure copies of the law for study "so that together we shall work to protect the rights of the child". Nana Dadzie told the people that it is only in an atmosphere of peace and unity that the natural and human resources of the area can be harnessed for their common good. The Deputy Central Regional Minister, Mr H. Q. Jehu-Appiah called on the people to use the occasion to pursue true peace for the sake of progress and the development of Edinaman.

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, the Managing Director of Ghana Breweries Limited, brewers of Star beer and ABC beer, which sponsored the festival announced that the company plans to document many of the festivals in the country to make them meaningful and also preserve them for generations yet to come. The Company presented cash prizes and some of its products to winners of a football match, marathon and regatta races organised in connection with the festival.