Accra, Aug.6, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC) is assisting more than 1,000 children between seven and 17 years working in Accra as female porters (Kayayee) to return to their families to enable them to enrol in school.

The exercise dubbed: "Repatriation of Kayayee" is intended to rid the city of children engaged in child labour and other associated abuse and threats to their lives.

Mrs Cecilia Nyadia, Assistant Director for the Ministry, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday that the exercise was initiated in 2001 by the former Sector Minister, Mrs. Gladys Asmah.

She said the Ministry in partnership with the Assemblies of God Relief Development Services (AGREDS) was working to locate their parents and provide them with funds to enable them to go to school. She said the Ministry had noted with concern the increasing rate of child labour as a result of factors such as rural-urban migration, early marriage and other socio-cultural practices that forced the children, especially from the northern part of the country, into the streets to engage in menial jobs.

Mrs. Nyadia said the Ministry had registered about 1,200 children at Agbobloshie in Accra, adding that they had been sensitised to understand the essence of the programme and voluntary return to their hometowns.

She said although some were reluctant to return to their hometowns, majority of them were prepared to reunite with their families. Mrs. Nyadia said the exercise, which was ongoing, would be extended to other regional capitals.