Ghana has made remarkable strides in combating child labour, particularly in the cocoa sector, achieving a 1-2% involvement rate in hazardous work – a significant decrease from 21% in 2022 – thanks to a multifaceted strategy focused on international agreements and local initiatives. The country’s ratification of international labour standards and the establishment of legal frameworks have been crucial. However, in recent years, the country has embraced a proactive approach, spearheaded by the Child Labour Free Zone (CLFZ) initiative, culminating in the declaration of the Ghana Accelerated Action Plan Against Child Labour (GAPAL). This initiative, initiated in 2018 under the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, has been a cornerstone of this transformation. The government’s commitment to this goal is evident in the development of child labour-free zones – three cocoa-growing communities in the Ashanti and Western North regions have been officially recognized as the first CLFZs. These communities, comprising Subri, Kuffour Camp, and Tano Dumase, represent a vital step in creating sustainable community systems dedicated to protecting children from labour. The formation of these zones has been driven by a collaborative effort involving local leaders, civil society organizations, district assemblies, child protection structures, farmer groups, and private sector partners. Rhodalyn Gyamfua Amaning, the Principal Labour Officer at the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, emphasizes that the CLFZ represents ‘the way to go’ – a method that fosters community ownership and responsibility. The CLFZ operates through integrated area- and participatory-based approaches, utilizing existing structures and strengthening government systems to address the problem. The initiative has been a key component of the country’s development since 2018, with the development of guidelines and protocols in 2020. The ILO and UNICEF’s 2025 report confirms that nearly 138 million children globally were engaged in child labour in 2024, with sub-Saharan Africa leading with over 87 million. Ghana has seen a substantial reduction in child labour prevalence since 2020, reversing a concerning spike between 2016 and 2020, reaching over 22 million children. The recent declaration of Ghana as an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder demonstrates a genuine commitment to tackling this issue, moving beyond just policy to actively implement concrete action. The project is facilitated by the ACCEL Africa initiative, which adopts a systems-based approach, tackling root causes of child labour, and with the goal of strengthening existing systems. Mr. Pwazaga, the National Project Officer for ACCEL Africa, highlights the critical role of poverty, which pushes families to compel children into farming, as a major contributing factor. The project is actively supporting livelihoods for families and providing social protection, and it’s aiming to strengthen systems to tackle the root causes of child labour. The ILO, through its ACCEL Africa project, is accelerating efforts to eliminate child labour in cocoa and gold supply chains. The project is adopting innovative, systems-based approaches, shifting away from project-based downstream interventions to strengthen existing systems. The collaborative approach is essential to ensuring that structures are put in place and continuously work. The collaborative effort is expected to ensure the country’s goal of eliminating child labour by 2030. The government’s continued investment in this area, coupled with the collaborative efforts of its partners, will undoubtedly contribute to sustaining this positive trend.
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Source: Adom Online
