OAfrica NGO Pledges Full Support to Children in Mining Communities — Project Manager

 

The Project Manager of OAfrica, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Madam Jacinta Owusua Atakora, has reaffirmed the NGO’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children in mining communities, stressing that no child should end up in an orphanage or be forced into illegal mining (galamsey) due to financial hardship.

Speaking at a town hall meeting at Akyem Samang in the Fanteakwa South District, Madam Atakora revealed that for the past 23 years, OAfrica has worked tirelessly to ensure that orphans remain with their families rather than being sent to orphanage homes. She explained that children suffer emotional distress when separated from their parents, which negatively affects their education and future development.

She expressed deep concern about the growing involvement of young people in galamsey across several communities, emphasizing that parents have a responsibility to prevent their children from engaging in such dangerous activities. “OAfrica strongly advocates that youth involvement in galamsey should never be encouraged. Parents must protect their children and ensure they focus on education, because that is what truly transforms lives,” she stressed.

Madam Atakora announced that OAfrica is currently operating in Fanteakwa South, particularly in communities such as Akyem Samang, Nsutam, Ayinam, and Kwabeng, to support young people who have abandoned school for galamsey. Under the initiative, the NGO will sponsor children to return to school by covering their school fees and providing financial assistance.

She added that the NGO will also support parents facing financial difficulties by offering capital to start small businesses, helping them overcome the poverty that pushes children into mining. “We want to ensure that no child goes into galamsey simply because of poverty. If adults choose to do it, that is for the government to handle—but no child should be involved,” she emphasized.

The nine-month project will be evaluated across all beneficiary communities, and if the results are positive, OAfrica plans to extend the programme to other areas so more families can benefit. Madam Atakora described the initiative as a step in the right direction and expressed hope that it would significantly reduce child labour in mining communities.

She appealed to religious leaders, traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and civil society organizations to speak strongly against children venturing into illegal mining. She further called on all stakeholders to help stop such harmful practices and protect the future and well-being of children.

OAfrica continues to help orphans and vulnerable children in Ghana grow up in healthy, nurturing environments that provide quality care, protection, education, and support.

Story by: Nana Addo, Radio 1.