Annie~Joy writes: Be Against Child Labour!
It's
sad that the equality which needs to be displayed among children, and
some chances to enjoy better lives are trembled upon.
Sometimes
due to a locational fact such as; where life located one, results into
some children engaging in income-generating activities. In other words,
child labour is explained in Elizabeth Asare's Management in Living
book as, the engagement of a child under fifteen years in
income-generating activities other than the usual light domestic and
agricultural work within the household of their parents, where the work
performed by the child is considered excessive, exploitative,
detrimental to the development of the child and hinders proper
preparation for adult role and responsibilities.
Therefore,
it is believed that any work done by a child which is beyond the
strength is not encouraged. Simply because the person involved is termed
as a "child" out of someone (sperm and ovary) he or she came. In that
case, it's the responsibility of the one the child came from, to take up
duties. But what do we see today? A child is being left to go out there
to hawk in order to gain a living and the sad part is, sometimes they
are used in income-Generating activities which the sales being made is
given to someone.
I
don't blame anyone but I blame the parents who didn't plan before
settling down on marriage knowing very well, that they will enlarge thus
with children.
Lack of
planning has resulted into child labour. I once negotiated with a mother
of seven children who is without a father for her children. After my
short conversation with her I realized lack of planning is the cause of
her having seven children without a father to take responsibility. This
is the case, her wards go out there in search of empty tins on the
refuse dump and any available area. After selling it in order to get
something for school the next day. Other times, they will have to weed
in order to get paid.
Our
conversation went on and the mother put it before me that, if any man
is to come around and want to be with her yet the person insist they
should give birth, she will say "No" to that. I was astonished because
this is the case your seven children have to be in child labour to gain a
living. I asked for her reason and she said the Bible said we should
multiply like the sea therefore she is fulfilling what the Bible said.
For
a moment, I was like; the Bible should have added do not multiply if
you can't meet the needs of your child. Due to lack of knowledge people
will indeed perish. As if it's fun to call someone your child. Even if
you that have the resources to Carter for one, You still have to give
out a child. It's sad, that In West Africa, and for that matter Ghana,
child labour is found in both rural and urban areas, but more so in
urban areas where children drop out of school mainly for financial
reasons.
In urban areas
in Ghana, there is increasing number of children of school-going age who
roam the streets, market places, lorry parks and others during school
hours busily involved in these commercial activities but the valued
property a child need in life is EDUCATION.
Yet
some children don't have their right to education. A child is asked to
go out there, hawk to put food on the table for the family. Why? It's
rather the duty of a parent to render onto a poor child.
It's
about time the fundamental human right of child should be considered.
The government and the general public should rise against labour
drastically. Proper and understanding counseling should be given to any
spouse who will want to settle down. So that, the child they will bring
into this world will not suffer.
Some
children regret to be in life because the best they need to get is not
given. Some activities even affect the development of the child and
hinders proper preparation of the child for adult roles and
responsibilities.
How
can someone be heartless, by living under fifteen child to labour in
order to gain living. On behalf of children who are in labour, we say we
are tired of risking our lives. Those who brought us to this world are
not taking up their responsibilities, and we are left to go out and
suffer.
Sometimes some of
us get knocked down by a car, the ladies get raped and also end up
being bullied for our money. We want to exercise our right to education
for the betterment of our future.
We
are calling on anyone who can help to help us to enjoy life to the
fullest and become prominent people in the society. We are the future of
our country.
STOP CHILD LABOUR. Be against child Labour. Child labour must end.
Happy World against CHILD DAY!
Writer: Annie~Joy
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