Illegal mining pulling Ghana’s school children out of classrooms and into hazardous labour
A recent study conducted by Solidaridad West Africa and the Minerals Commission across four mining communities, Pameng, Asamang, Akwaboaso and Abrenya, in the Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region has revealed that school children are increasingly abandoning classrooms for mining sites in search of quick income to support their families. The study conducted in […]
A recent study in Ghana has found that illegal mining is pulling school children out of classrooms and into hazardous labor. Conducted in the Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region, the study found that children aged 10 to 17 are working in unregulated mining sites, facing dangerous conditions and toxic exposure. While poverty is a factor, the study also highlights the influence of social pressures, peer influence, and the perception of limited educational benefits.
Children can earn between GH₵100 and GH₵1,000 daily, but this often leads to child labor, interrupted education, and limited future opportunities. School attendance and enrollment are declining, with education officials expressing concern over the growing impact of illegal mining. Education experts warn that the effects extend beyond lost classroom time, limiting children's potential and the future development of communities and the nation.
Solidaridad and the Minerals Commission are piloting a community initiative to combat child labor, focusing on incentive-based programs, school retention, and sustainable livelihood alternatives.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
