From Francis E. Monnie
The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) – Ghana, a Coalition of Priests, Religious Congregations, Civil Society Organisations and other collaborators, have called for an end to child slavery, describing it as dehumanising.
The call was contained in a petition to Mr. Salifu Sa-eed, the Northern Regional Minister; Mr. Iddrisu Musah, Mayor of Tamale and Sheik Alhaji Abdul Salam, Northern Regional Chief Imam during courtesy calls paid on them.
Members of the Coalition were in the Northern Region to carry out sensitisation campaigns in three pilot communities to end child slavery.
The communities, namely Gumo in the Kumbungu District, Tolon, Capital of the Tolon District and Bunglung in the Savelugu Municipality, have been identified to have the highest number of girls who work as head porters (kayayei) in the cities.
The group decried child migration, child marriages, child trafficking, child streetism and child labour which are contrary to the rights of children in Ghana and encouraged parents to educate their children to secure for them a better future instead of sending them to the streets to fend for the family.
with the community members during the sensitisation campaign at Bunglung.
During the campaign, there were documentaries on the dangers of child slavery and the plight of unfortunate children who find themselves in such conditions.
The campaign was aimed at sensitising the people and soliciting the support of Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders and families in curbing the practice.
In their petition, the AFJN-Ghana among others, called on leaders in the country to help stop child slavery by organising anti-streetism and trafficking campaigns and programmes to sensitize communities on the need to end all forms of maltreatments, abuse and exploitation of children.
The leaders pledged their support for the campaign to protect and safeguard the nation’s future leaders from exploitation and abuse.
During a courtesy call at his office, Very Rev. Fr. Matthew Yitiereh, Vicar General of the Tamale Archdiocese, commended the AFJN-Ghana for the good work and encouraged them to do their best to help curb the menace.
Members of the Coalition include the Missionaries of Africa, the Spiritan Fathers, the Presentation Brothers, the Sisters of St. Louis, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, the Servant Sisters of the Holy Spirit, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny and the Loretto Sisters.
Partners from Civil Society Organisations are the African Development Organisation for Migration, the Centre for Initiative against Trafficking, the Kumasi Street Children Project and collaborators such as the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation and the TalithaKum Ghana.
