The Asutifi South Education Directorate in the Ahafo Region has sounded an alarm over a surge in child labour at Acherensua and surrounding communities.

According to the directorate, parental poverty and low awareness about education are contributing factors to this trend.

School Improvement Support Officer (SISO), Rosemary Kwakye, made the observation during a sensitisation program organised by the Goaso Diocesan Development Organisation, in collaboration with the Child Labor and Empowerment of Girls Advocacy.

She said many parents in the area send their children to work on farms at the expense of their education.

"Children as young as 2 to 15 years old are often seen accompanying their parents to farms, which has negatively impacted school enrollment in the district," she said.

The directorate has repeatedly reported the issue to the social welfare department, but the problem persists.

Ms. Kwakye noted that aside from child labour, some children have dropped out of school to engage in illegal mining (galamsey), putting the region's future at risk.