Mampong (Ash), May 21, GNA - A 16-member Child Protection Committee (CPC) responsible for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in cocoa growing areas in the Mampong Municipality, has been inaugurated at Asante-Mampong.

Mr Kwasi Attakorah, Mampong Municipal Co-ordinating Director, in his inaugural address, said the cocoa industry has played significant role in the country's socio-economic development since independence and the time has come to get rid of any negative practices affecting the growth of the industry. He mentioned the use of child labour by farmers as one activity detected to be having serious effects on the industry hence the government's selection of 41 pilot districts and municipalities to end this social problem.

Mr Attakorah charged the committee, under the chairmanship of the Municipal Chief Executive, to sensitise the selected 10 beneficiary communities on the negative effects of child labour, provide the necessary interventions for farmers and promote universal basic education and human resource development for the children. He said the government would support the implementation of the programme in the selected communities for three years after which the assembly would continue with the support. Mr Stephen Atta Gyamfi, the Municipal Social Welfare Officer, said for the successful implementation of the programme, the government has provided 10 bicycles, a motorbike, a laptop computer and accessories with an amount of GH¢3,200. The beneficiary communities are Mprim, Kofiase, Nkwanta, Apaa, Benim, Mampong, Kyekyewere, Atonsuagya, Adidwam and Nyinampon.