Parliamentary committee engages Abuakwa South on child protection concerns

Child labour, teenage pregnancy and the impact of illegal mining on children were among the key issues raised when Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights visited the Abuakwa South Municipality in the Eastern Region.

The visit formed part of the Committee’s ongoing Field Monitoring and Capacity-Building exercise aimed at assessing child rights and welfare concerns in selected communities.

During the engagement, the Committee met officials of the Abuakwa South Municipal Assembly after paying a courtesy call on the Municipal Chief Executive.

The discussions centred on how education, illegal mining and teenage pregnancy are affecting the safety, development and future prospects of children in the municipality.

The Committee and its partners later visited Kwesi Komfo Community, where they called on the chief and traditional leaders before meeting residents.

Community members and stakeholders raised concerns about child labour, teenage pregnancy and the implementation of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for participants to discuss practical ways to improve child protection at the local level.

The Committee said the challenges affecting children required coordinated action from municipal authorities, traditional leaders, parents, communities, Parliament and development partners.

It stressed that children and young people must be protected from conditions that undermine their education, safety and development.

The visit forms part of broader efforts to strengthen awareness, accountability and local capacity in the protection of children’s rights.