Nana Agyei Berchie, Ahafo Ano South District Manager of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), at the weekend called on all stakeholders in the cocoa industry to re-examine the definition and application of child labour.

He said the concept of child labour, its meaning, interpretation and understanding varied from community to community and urged countries where the practice was prevalent to rethink the concept.

Nana Berchie was contributing to discussions at a day's sensitization seminar on child labour, aimed at reducing the practice in cocoa growing areas, at Mankranso in the district.

He reminded the public that section 90 of the Children's Act 1998 (Act 560) permits children of 13 years to do light work in Ghana but said this was internationally, unacceptable, unless a attains 18 years.

Nana Berchie said in Ghana, caretakers, who earned one-third of the produce, were undertaking cocoa production and preventing their children from conveying the cocoa beans and doing other light work would require additional labourers, which would greatly affect their incomes and livelihoods.

He, however, said engaging children on the sea, mining, quarrying, chemicals and others, which exposed them to danger should be avoided.

Nana Berchie urged farmers and farm labourers not to panic since engaging their children in light work would not affect their health and schooling.



Source: GNA