By King Freeman Nutsukpoe
The General Agricultural Workers Union, (GAWU) has held a training programme for members of the community child protection committees at Kpando-Torkor in the Kpando Municipality and Aveme Gborxome in the North Dayi District.
The four-day training programme was aimed at building their capacities in their child protection activities.
The participants were also trained in aquaculture as an alternative source to generate income to cater to their families.
The training afforded the members the opportunity to find sustainable ways to generate income on the fishing value chain without necessarily fishing on Volta Lake.
GAWU also provided the committees with reflector jackets and name tags to enhance their surveillance on all forms of child abuse among children in communities along the Volta Lake.
GAWU has been at the forefront of championing the elimination of child Labour and trafficking along the Volta Lake.
The General Secretary of GAWU, Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe said the initiative forms part of the Union’s drive to alleviate poverty in communities along the Volta Lake by training community members in alternative sources of livelihood.
Mr Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe underscored the important role played by the child labor protection committee in the fishing communities in making sure that the children stay in school rather than fishing on the lake.
The Union organized the programme in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Water Research Institute.
A Senior Scientist at the Council for Scientific Industrial Research at the Water Research Institute, Dr Etornyo Agbeko took participants through the aquaculture training and shared the prospects in the aquaculture value chain which is a lucrative venture.
He said unlike fishing on the lake, aquaculture is not hazardous, stressful nor time consuming.
GAWU has also formed Anti child Labour Clubs in Cluster of Schools at the Aveme Gborxome and Kpando Torkor.
GAWU also donated some items to members of the Anti-Child Labour club in the schools which include school Bags, books, pencils and branded T-shirts which will serve as their Friday wears.
The donations also included a set of football jerseys and footballs.
