Accra, Jan. 22, GNA – Hundreds of children of school going age
in Yorkitikpo in South Tongu District of the Volta Region have abandoned
school and engaging in cattle herding during school contact hours.
Most of the children are under ten years and should have been in school,
rather herd cattle for grazing at dawn and return them at midday for
another herd.
Ghana News Agency (GNA) checks revealed that, though all the children
were of school going age, some never stepped foot in the classroom,
while others dropped out of school to assist in the family business.
One of the children, Samuel, told GNA that nomadic activities were
lucrative ventures that could sustain their (children) families in the
future.
He said they were told they could herd cattle and become owners of barns
because the longer years in cattle herding determined the number of
cattle given them as reward from the masters.
Samuel said the work was tiring, but the promises kept them moving on.
Some parents in the community also said they wished to see their
children in high positions in future, but could not support their
education, hence engaging them in the venture.
Mr. Moses Kakaw, the Director of Department of Social Welfare and
Community Development for South Tongu District, said his office was
aware of children in cattle herding, but the limited resources of the
Department made it difficult to rescue them.
“It is against the law to keep children of school going age out of
school and it is our duty to rescue them and send them back to the
classroom, however the limited resources in the District has made the
rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of these children difficult,”
he said.
He called on non-governmental organisations to support the Department to
rescue the children and send them back to the classroom.
