Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
Accra, Ghana - OAfrica, a child rights organization, held a critical forum today, July 30th highlighting the devastating impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on children's lives and futures. Robert Mensa Dakwa, CEO of OAfrica, emphasized the urgent need for community action and legal enforcement to protect children from the dangerous mining activities.
The forum brought attention to how children are being drawn into galamsey sites, exposing them to health risks and disrupting their education. Dakwa stressed that existing laws must be strictly enforced and communities empowered to report and prevent child involvement in these illegal mining operations.
"Every child has a right to grow well in society," Dakwa stated. "We are calling on law enforcement, government agencies, and community partners to take decisive action to keep children out of these hazardous environments."
The organization is working to educate communities about the dangers of galamsey and its long-term consequences on children's health and educational opportunities. OAfrica is advocating for a collective approach to address this critical issue, urging stakeholders to prioritize child protection and environmental preservation.
The forum serves as a critical platform to raise awareness and mobilize action against the exploitation of children in illegal mining activities across Ghana.
The event organized by OAfrica and partner NGOs, brought together community leaders, health experts, educators, and policymakers to discuss the devastating impact of child mining on youth development.
Francis Anipah, Project Manager of OAfrica, highlighted the urgent need for collective action, emphasizing that children are abandoning classrooms to work in dangerous mining conditions. The forum referenced a powerful investigation by Tiger Eye Ghana that exposed children sifting through mud, risking exposure to mercury and heavy metals.
Key concerns include severe health risks, potential long-term cognitive damage, and the broader humanitarian crisis of children being denied their right to education and safe childhood environments.
The forum aims to develop concrete strategies to protect children from exploitation and ensure they can pursue educational opportunities instead of hazardous labor.
Stakeholders are committed to mobilizing resources and implementing comprehensive interventions to end child labor in mining communities across Ghana.
About OAfrica
OAfrica empowers children and young adults in need of care and protection because of institutionalization, abandonment, neglect, disability or abuse to become productive members of the community. We accomplish this by strengthening families and reintegrating separated children whose rights have been compromised due to poverty, violence, trafficking, disease and discrimination into safe, stable and loving households.