Ajumako (C/R), Dec. 24, GNA - About 270 children in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam and the Awutu-Effutu-Senya districts of the Central Region, are reported to be in the worst forms of child labour, census carried out by officials of the two districts has indicated. One hundred and eighty of such children engaged in agricultural activities are reportedly engaged in the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam administrative area, while the remaining 90 are currently engaged in fishing in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District.

Mr Kenneth K Obempong, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Chief Executive and Mr Peter K Dery, Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Co-ordinating Director announced these during the launch of the International Programme on "The Elimination of Child Labour in the two economically-distressed districts, at separate functions at Ajumako and Winneba.

The two top local Government officials announced that their district assemblies had already initiated workable strategies to assist government to address the issue because it was increasingly becoming a dangerous canker capable of destroying the future of such children. Mr Obempong said the problem of the employment of child labour in agriculture had been in existence in the Ajumako District for a long time, adding that it was at its peak during planting and harvesting periods.

He said research had shown that during these periods children abandon school and go to farm to work to the detriment of their education while their parents sat down unconcerned. Mr Dery who stood in for his District Chief Executive Solomon Kwashie Abbam-Quaye, said plans had been initiated to withdraw fishing children from Yeji and other fishing communities throughout the country.

Launching the project, Mr James Ampiah, Deputy Director of the Centre for Rural Enterprise Development (CRED), called for an integrated approach by all stakeholders, including parents and guardians of the victims, opinion leaders, NGOs, CBOs and religious bodies to resolve the issue.

Mr Ampiah described child labour as a disturbing challenge facing the nation because it affects national efforts to achieve higher socio-economic conditions as it creates a large pool of illiterate citizens.