Abena Felicia and Child Labour
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Brong-Ahafo Region-GHANA renders Judicial Assistance to COREE WORLD AID.
The Administrative Justice for Human Rights agrees to render administrative assistance to CWAF to come in aid for children that are being abused and enforced with child labour in the region of Brong-Ahafo.
Coordinating Director of CWAF, Eugene Koree and Rev. Michael, Outreach Coordinator of the Ghana Mobile Evangelical Association had a meeting.
During the meeting at the Kumasi CHRAJ, the discussion was focused on how to tackle child labour issues in Ghana. A recent issue was raised up concerning a girl at the age of 11 years old who is being denied access to education by her uncle. FILECIA ABENA is 11 years old and is adopted by her uncle in Apraku-Krom village. With tears in her eyes Abena tells her story. She hasn’t been able to go to school and desires to start education. The reason in her story relates back to the inability of care and support from her parents. The father is deceased and her uncle took her in. The uncle insists that Abena should serve him with hard labour and farm for him as well and that school is nothing for her. During an interview with Abena, she confesses to know deep in her heart that education is a key but she has no support. During our trip to Brong Ahafo, CWAF coordinators proceeded with an offer to educate Abena and care for her.
Her uncle living currently in the family house with other relatives exclaims “I am not married (30 yrs) and not planning to marry now and she is the only one that I have to take care of me, cook for me, fetch me water for my crops and care for my aid. School is not for her and I will find something for her to do when she is older. Even if your foundation will care for her to go to school then she will have to stop during the farm seasons to farm for me, so your request to educate her is denied. If you insist going on with your procedure then I will chase her out the house.”
CWAF alarmed the local authorities concerning this incident, since several approaches and proposals of care assistance to Abena has been denied by her uncle, the commissioners of the CHRAJ department ensure to investigate and rescue Abena from her misery in order to achieve a better future.
Story by: CWAF Administration Office.