50 Minors evacuated to resettle with their families

15-08-2011
About 50 minors including some nursing mothers have been evacuated from Kumasi to Bolgatanga following the demolition of unauthorized structures cited at the Kumasi “Race Course” market. They were met on arrival by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo. The children whose age ranges between 8 and 20 were accompanied by a Kumasi based businessman, Dominic Azumah, who out of pity arranged for a bus to convey them back to Bolgatanga to resettle with their families. The Upper East Regional Minister welcomed the returnees and moreover thanked the organizers for their show of concern. Mr. Woyongo, in an address, expressed worry about the incessant child migration down south in search for menial jobs and charged parents to stop the practice where children are allowed to travel down south unaccompanied. These children, he lamented engage in all sort of menial activities that go against the Child Labour Act. Some, he indicated are sometimes subjected to all kinds of abuses, whilst others acquire diseases including HIV and AIDS. He therefore appealed to all Ghanaians to be conscious of the child labour act and join in the fight against the menace. According to him, government is making conscious effort to stop the practice of child labour, stating that the idea would only yield positive results if Ghanaians are educated and conscientized on the need to be abreast with child labour issues. Mr. Woyongo has with immediate effect ordered the various assemblies to cater for the expenses of the returnees, whilst the Regional Coordinating Council and other key stakeholders take steps to address the daunting situation. One of the returnees, a 20 year old girl, Atambire Awine used the opportunity to caution other teenagers to rescind their decision to travel down south to engage in menial jobs. It could be recalled that on August 4th, 2011, hundreds of the race course traders went on demonstration demanding a review of an August, 8 deadline to evict traders to pave way for the an ultra modern market project. Though the traders expressed much concern about the proposed exercise, their plea was not taken as some described as exorbitant, prices charged for the stalls and sheds at the Abinkyi market. The eviction of the traders became necessary when the Asantehene, Otumfour Osei Tutu, cut the sod for work to begin on an ultra modern “Sunshine city and shopping mall” at the area. The decision follows a crunch meeting between city authorities and the Ashanti Regional Security Council to move traders at the Race Course in phases. The next batch of returnees is due to arrive soon.
GBC END IA