Child labour-free zones emerge as Ghana’s new weapon against child labour
Across Ghana’s agricultural value chain, particularly in the cocoa sector, thousands of children continue to be in the worst forms of child labour, impeding their physical, social, educational, and mental growth. In 2022 alone, reports suggested that approximately 21% of Ghanaian children aged 5–17 were involved in child labour, with over 1.2 million engaged in […]
Ghana is making strides in combating child labour through the establishment of Child Labour Free Zones (CLFZs), targeting towns, zonal, or area Councils with necessary conditions, support systems, and child development facilities. Three cocoa-growing communities in the Ashanti and Western North regions—Subri, Kuffour Camp Area Council, and Tano Dumase Area Council—have been declared the nation's inaugural CLFZs.
Local leaders, civil society organisations, district assemblies, child protection structures, farmer groups, and private sector partners have played crucial roles in maintaining low child labour prevalence in these areas.
The CLFZ model employs participatory and integrated approaches, leveraging existing district and community structures to tackle child labour. It aims to create sustainable community systems that prevent child labour, enhance educational access, and bolster child protection mechanisms. Initiated in 2018, the initiative was formalized in 2020 and seeks to address all sectors of the economic value chain, not just cocoa.
Ghana's progress in eliminating child labour has been recognized; it has been declared an Alliance 8.7 pathfinder, surpassing its initial commitment. Supported by international organisations like the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, Ghana's Labour Department continues to implement innovative projects to combat the menace.
The ILO's ACCEL Africa project is focusing on strengthening existing systems to tackle the root causes of child labour in cocoa and artisanal gold mining supply chains. Addressing poverty, a significant factor contributing to child labour, is a priority, with the project providing livelihood support and social protection for affected families.
Written by urgent.news from Adom Online's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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