Ignorance of the Children's Act and its application has been identified as one of the major causes of child labour in the country.
Mr David Atinga, Coordinator of the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, in charge of the Upper East Region, made this observation on Monday at a day's workshop organized by the federation in Bolgatanga.
The training session attracted stakeholders from Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Immigration Service, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Police, Assembly members, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Teachers and parents among others.
It was aimed at producing a core of dedicated people to advocate against child labour to reduce the menace in society.
Mr Atinga said findings of various studies had shown that not only parents were ignorant of the laws relating to child labour and the issues of child rights, but the law enforcement agencies such as the police, customs officials and legal practitioners.
He explained that based on the ignorance of the laws and their application, majority of children's rights were violated with many of them forced to undertake work that amounted to child labour.
Mr Atinga indicated that the Children's Act, Act 560 (1998) section 87 stipulated what constituted child labour which included using a child for labour beyond his or her capabilities.
He said in Ghana many children were engaged in mining and stone quarrying, street hawking, fishing, herding cattle and sheep and working in "chop bars" among other things which was a violation of the rights of the child.
Mr Atinga said under the children's Act, child prostitution or any work that affected the health, education and the general welfare and the development of the child was a violation against children's rights.
He said a survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service in 2003, indicated that 39 percent of Ghanaian children between ages five and 17 years were engaged in child labour and that the issue needed to be tackle with a multi facet approach.
He called on the law enforcement agencies to study the children's Act properly in order to become abreast with it to enable them to apply it when dealing with issues concerning children.
Mrs Saratu Mahama, Northern Regional Coordinator of FIDA educated the participants on the Children's Act under topics such as the "Worse forms of child Labour, Child Trafficking, Gender and Child Labour and The roles of Law Enforcement Agencies, Traditional Authorities, GPRTU, Parents, Teachers and the Effects of Child Labour on Children."
She noted that the dream of Ghana to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 would be a mirage if issues affecting the rights of children were not addressed.
She appealed to parents to play their parental roles by ensuring that children had the right to life, dignity and respect.
"Every parent or guardian has the duty to provide guidance and assistance and maintenance to ensure the survival and development of the child under the Children's Act," Mrs Mahama said.