Social Support Foundation (SSF), an Obuasi-based human rights non-governmental organization, has launched a project to address modern slavery, child and forced labour in the mining communities.
Known as Community Resistance to Slavery and Forced Labour (CRSFL), the project seeks to promote self-organized slave-free enterprises among the unemployed youth and also facilitate community action to end forced labour.
Mr Louis Acheampong, Executive Director of SSF, was speaking at an awareness creation and stakeholders meeting on the project at Obuasi.
It was attended by more than 50 participants from five districts in the Ashanti Region.
These included Obuasi and Bekwai Municipalities, Amansie Central, Amansie West and Adansi North.
He said as part of promoting self-organized slave-free enterprises, the project was identifying groups of miners for assistance to apply for concessions and licenses.
"In addition, we work towards identifying sources of fair credit to enable them to access funding for their operations to minimize
debt bondage resulting out of dealings with illegal loans operatives."
He said already the project had assisted Koffiekrom, Abompekrom, Ahansoyewodea and Kunka, all communities in the Obuasi Municipal
to develop community actions plans to address child and forced labour issues.
Mr Acheampong said as a result of financial support from Free The Slaves (FTS), an American NGO, the project was being extended to
nine communities in the Adansi North, Amansie Central, Amansie West and Bekwai Municipality and called on the community leaders to embrace it.
Mr Malik Bin Ibrahim, the Project Officer, said the project was working with Staff from the Department of Social Welfare, National
Commission for Civic Education, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Department of Community Development and Domestic
Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) as key stakeholders.