Derma (B/A), July 12, GNA - Child labour is in the ascendancy in some deprived communities in Tano South District of Brong-Ahafo Region. Most parents in these communities also used their school going children, as sources of cheap labour on their farms during school hours, Mr. Ntim Gyakari, head teacher of Derma Community Junior Secondary School, disclosed on Tuesday.

He was interacting with Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Regional Minister and Nana Abraham Kwadwo Kwakye, his Deputy, who were on a familiarisation tour of the area.

Mr Gyakari explained that most school children in the area absconded from classrooms around July-August every year to help in the harvesting tomatoes, which is the major income-generating produce in the area.

"During the harvesting season, most of the children walk the distance of about four kilometres from Dwomo to Derma to be hired for the exercise", he said.

The head teacher called for sanctions against such parents, as well as their children to serve as deterrent to others. Mr Baffour-Awuah condemned the behaviour of the people and urged chiefs in the area to support the District Assembly to enact byelaws that would uphold the basic human rights of children. He asked parents to take keen interest in the education of their children to enable them become responsible adults. The Regional Minister emphasized the need for traditional authorities to cooperate and unite with the district assemblies in the implementation of projects meant to enhance the development of their areas.

He gave the assurance that even though some of the problems in the communities seemed insurmountable, arrangements had been put in place to find solutions to them as soon as possible. Mr Baffour-Awuah later inaugurated a 487 million cedis classroom block for Dwomo community JSS, which was constructed through the HIPC Fund.

Nana Owusu Asante II, Chief of Derma and Nana Owusu Ampem II, chief of Techimantia expressed concern about the deplorable state of roads linking the various communities and lack of potable water in their areas.

The Regional Minister and his entourage ended the tour at Bechem, the district capital, with a call on the people to embrace policies initiated by the government to help alleviate their plight.