Bia East: The ComCA-Ghana, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has launched a sensitization campaign targeting ten communities in the Bia East and Juaboso Districts of the Western North Region, focusing on fundamental workplace rights.
According to Ghana News Agency, the five-day initiative successfully engaged over 1,286 pupils and 830 community members. Mr. Emmanuel Addowah, Executive Director of ComCA-Ghana, highlighted that the campaign, part of the ACCEL Africa Projects II, aimed to educate community members on essential workplace principles and rights, including the eradication of child labour.
The campaign addressed five key rights: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced or compulsory labour, the abolition of child labour, the elimination of discrimination, and occupational safety and health. The initiative featured creative performances by pupils, using drama, poetry, traditional dance, and choreography to deliver messages on child protection, workplace rights, and the consequences of child labour. Mr. Addowah noted the effectiveness of these youth-led artistic expressions in fostering open dialogue among parents, traditional authorities, and stakeholders.
Mr. Anikla Rafui, the Bia East Social Welfare Officer, emphasized that the initiative would contribute to reducing forced and child labour in cocoa growing and small-scale mining areas. Meanwhile, Mr. Lawrence Amofa, the Social Welfare Officer for Juaboso, urged the District Assembly, traditional leaders, and media to implement practical measures to raise awareness on child rights and combat child labour in the region.
