One of the major problems that is affecting Ghana
and the world today is child labour. Child labour can be seen as children below
the working age being forced or compelled due to circumstances to work at the
expense of enjoying basic privileges such as education, good health and other
social amenities.
According to research, broken homes resulting in
single parenthood is one of the contributing factors of child labour in Ghana
of which my community is no exception. The single parent under such difficult
situation may be financially handicapped to cater for her children. In view of this, a child who is determined to be in school is sent by
his/her parent onto the street or elsewhere to work to make a living and to pay
for his/her fees.
One fine afternoon after some Ghanaians had watched
the partial eclipse of the sun in a fantastic and fanciest frenzy, I chanced on
this sugarcane seller. He is called Joseph Boadi. Joseph is a thirteen year old
boy, who is in class six. According to him, they are four in the family and his
parents are not in a good job to provide for their basic needs. Because of this, he has been asked by his parents to sell sugarcane so as to earn
a little amount of money to support him and the family. Joseph told me that
poverty compelled his parents to settle in Accra to make a decent living for
themselves. They come from a village in the Eastern Region of Ghana. But alas!
Their expectation has been otherwise. He complained that the cost of living in
the capital is very hard. Joseph narrated that he ought to sell from Monday to
Sunday. Thus when he closes from school every week, he quickly goes out to do
his business. He told me that selling under the scorching sun has been one of
his challenges.
I inquisitively asked Joseph what he wants to
become in future, he told me that he wants to become a Bank Manager. Hmm! What
a great ambition to nurture. Can his dream become a reality in this struggle
for survival to make a living and to cater for his education? It is only time
that has the power to answer this question. May God see you through this
travailing time my good friend!
video: Future Bank Manager, skillfully peeling a sugarcane for a customer.
No comments:
Post a Comment