Asankragwa (W/R) Nov 8, GNA - The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) has donated books valued 300 million cedis to 12 communities in the Amenfi West District.

The books were in support of "Yen Daakye" (YDK) literally translated as "Our Future" project. The YDK project is aimed at preventing children from hazardous work and to give them formal education.

It is also to nurture children to become responsible citizens. The twelve project communities are, Nkwantanan, Pantooso, Domiabra, Amoaman, Sika Nti and Kokooase. The rest are, Woman no good, Agyadum, Dominase, Odumase, Atobrakrom and Dokwreso. ICI is a joint partnership between the cocoa industry and the non-industry sector whose mission is "to oversee and sustain efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour and forced labour in the growing and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products." Mr Samuel Alberto Takyi, the Amenfi West District Chief Executive, commended the donours for the books, which he said, would boost education in the district.

Mr. Takyi said the YDK project should serve as an eye opener for parents to ensure that their children were not engaged in hazardous work but would send them to school.

Mr. Robert Obri-Yeboah, Executive Director Community Development Consult Network (CODISULT) said, the implementing partners in the Amenfi West District, said ICI, Switzerland, is the financiers of the YDK in the whole of West Africa.

ICI is working in Cote d'Ivoir and Ghana and in Ghana it is being implemented in three districts namely, Amenfi West, Mpohor Wassa East and Adansi North.

The project took off in 2005 and would be scaled up to cover over 500 cocoa growing communities in Ghana in the next five years. Mr. Obri-Yeboah said in addition to the book donation, the project communities have been sensitised on child labour issues and the need to place premium on good and quality care, health and love and protection for the upbringing of their children. ICI has also given financial support in renovating of schools, provision of furniture and in some places construction of teachers' quarters with communal support.