Ghana Trades Union Congress has educated the fishers in James town, Greater Accra Region, on dangers associated with child labour and how they can play a role in averting them.

Mr. Andrews Tagoe, who doubles as the Focal Person on Child Labour, Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), and Deputy General Secretary, General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), at the sensitization programme, said child labour is one of the pervasive forms of modern-day slavery in Ghana which must be curbed.

“Modern-day slavery among the youth includes child labour, forced labour, bonded labour, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and sex trafficking.”
Mr. Andrews Tagoe

The sensitization programme aimed to educate the fisher folks on the dangers of child labour and the need for them to play a significant role in curbing the menace as some of their children were victims.

The TUC Focal Person on child labour urged the fishers to see the need for a change starting from them as some sometimes used child labour.

“We want all our children in Ghana to access good education and come out of child labour or any form of modern slavery.”
Mr. Andrews Tagoe

Jamestown fishers explained the cause of child labour

Mr. Tagoe revealed that the TUC has been dealing with all professional bodies and sectors of the economy, educating them to help address child labour and other forms of modern-day slavery situations, adding that the fisher folks within the communities were also duty bearers of the areas. Therefore, a change must begin with them.

Mr. Tagoe called for a multi-sectoral approach to address the child menace as it needed the contribution of all stakeholders.

“When young people who should grow our country tomorrow do not see hope in the country but decide that hope is somewhere else, there is an issue. We train doctors, and they move away; we train teachers, they move away, and the children who are the future of this country also begin to lose hope in the country by doing other illegal things to survive; we have a big problem to address. This calls for national concern, which is the TUC’s concern.”
Mr. Andrews Tagoe

The fishermen, on their part, said challenges affecting their work contribute to the child labour menace within the fishing communities.

Nii Lartey Boye, a fisherman, speaking at the event, admitted that some children have subjected themselves to all forms of labour in the communities and markets to make a living.

Nii Boye noted that though the situation was disturbing, parents could not care for their families due to the low fish catch.

TUC to replicate sensitization programme in other coastal areas

The TUC is a member of the steering committee on child labour. This is the first major sensitization programme it has organized in partnership with LO Norway to eradicate child labour and other forms of modern slavery.

The TUC will replicate the sensitization programme in other coastal areas in the country, including Bortianor, Elmina, and Kpando Tokor, with a call on Ghanaians to support the agenda.