Is Ghana losing the fight to protect children online?

The Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS) has been launched to strengthen efforts in combating child labour within agriculture, artisanal mining, domestic work, and other informal sectors. This digital tool allows government officials and partners to identify, document, refer, and follow up on cases of child labour more efficiently.

The system's importance lies in its applicability across sectors where children are exposed to hazardous or exploitative work conditions. The International Labour Organisation (ILO), through the ACCEL Africa Project, is partnering with the Child Labour Unit of Ghana's Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment to train stakeholders at regional and district levels in using the new system.

This initiative is crucial for ensuring that professionals directly involved in detecting, monitoring, referring, and managing child labour cases possess the necessary knowledge and practical skills. Bismark Quartey, the National Project Coordinator of the ILO’s ACCEL Africa Project in Ghana, highlighted the significance of reliable and timely data in combating child labour, emphasizing that the new GCLMS serves as a common platform for documenting cases, understanding their characteristics, initiating interventions, and monitoring children and families receiving support.

The training program, conducted over four days, provided hands-on experience for participants to learn how to register cases, manage data, generate reports, and monitor follow-up actions. One participant, Frederick Osei Agyemang from the Social Welfare Department in Bibiani, expressed appreciation for the training's impact on his understanding of how to utilize the GCLMS effectively.

The GCLMS also emphasizes the importance of improved information sharing through interoperability with other child labour monitoring systems, aiming to facilitate timely and evidence-based decision-making. By enhancing data collection and coordination at decentralized levels, the system is expected to contribute to targeted interventions and ensure that support reaches children and families in need.

The rollout of the new GCLMS in Ghana is seen as a significant step towards strengthening national systems to prevent and eliminate child labour, with a focus on protecting every child from work that threatens their well-being and future prospects.