Accra, Sept. 30, GNA – A two-day workshop aimed at sensitising media practitioners to adequately comprehend child labour issues opened in Accra on Thursday.
The workshop brought together 25 media practitioners from Accra and the regions to increase their knowledge on child labour issues and support advocacy on child trafficking.
Speaking to Journalist, Ms Sarah Akrofi-Quarcoo, President of Women in Broadcasting (WIB), urged media practitioners to pay more attention to issues affecting children in the country in order to provide a secured future for the children.
“Media reportage on children hasn’t been good at all in the country and it is unfortunate that issues that are affecting our children are being relegated to the background.”
Ms Akrofi-Quarcoo called for the formulation of policies that could expose child trafficking saying, “If the country is going to move forward the issue of child labour has to be taken seriously because they are our future leaders.”
She said media practitioners should generate public interest and set the agenda on child labour issues in order to bring politicians’ attention to the issue.
Mr. Eric Appiah Okrah, National Project Co-ordinator of the International Labour Organization (ILO), express concerns about Ghana being the first to sign the UN Convention on the Right of the Child but had failed to put in place the necessary conditions for Ghanaian children to enjoy the benefits of the Convention.
Mr. Okrah called for law enforcement and training institutions to be abreast with issues affecting children.
