From Reflection to Action – The Fight Against Child Labor continues
Child labor remains one of the most persistent violations of children's rights across the globe. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), as of 2023, an estimated 160 million children; almost 1 in 10 worldwide are engaged in child labor, with nearly half involved in hazardous work that directly endangers their health and development. While Ghana has made significant strides in mitigating child labour, it continues to affect thousands of children, particularly in sectors like agriculture, fishing, mining, and informal trading.
The cocoa sector is critical to Ghana’s economy and global exports. It has been identified as one of the key areas where child labor is prevalent. Government efforts, civil society partnerships, and international collaboration have led to improved data systems, community sensitization, and the establishment of child protection frameworks. Article 28(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana stipulates that “Every child has the right to be protected from work that threatens his health, education or development”. Yet, challenges such as poverty, lack of access to quality education, and cultural norms continue to perpetuate the cycle. Therefore, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) – Sustainable Cocoa Programme (SCP) together with Ghana Cocoa Board is focused on minimizing child labor issues in the cocoa sector.
Securing dignity, education and wellbeing for the next generation
Ghana has stepped up its actions against child labor. While progress has been made, efforts to stop child labor continue. Under the theme “Progress is Clear, But There’s More to Do – Let’s Speed Up!”, the Ministry of Labor, Jobs and Employment (MLJE) convened a landmark Partners’ Forum in Accra, bringing together over 100 partners, stakeholders and child rights experts several internationally recognized institutions. In his keynote address at the forum, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister for Labor, Jobs and Employment, underscored the moral and national imperative of ending child labor: “The fight against child labour is indeed the fight for the very soul of our nation. If we lose this battle, we lose the future of our children.” The appeal resonated deeply with participants and reaffirmed the ministry’s unwavering stance: child labor is not just a legal issue; it’s a moral one. It is about securing the dignity, education, and well-being of the next generation.
The 2025 Partners’ Forum served as both a checkpoint and a springboard. Key highlights included:
Presentation of the Consolidated 2024 Annual Child Labor Report, reflecting progress in data collection, community interventions, and enforcement.
Honest feedback sessions, where stakeholders shared successes, gaps, and strategies for scaling impact.
Recommitment to a shared vision of zero tolerance for child labor, with renewed pledges of technical and financial support from key partners.
Strong partnerships enable success
On behalf of the GIZ - NIED Cluster Coordinator, Samuel Noble Quaque, Interim Country Coordinator of the SCP indicated that GIZ is 50 years in Ghana and our success can be attributed to the cordial and affable relationship we have enjoy from the various Government Ministries and agencies. He outlined the successes realized together with Ghana Cocoa Board in minimizing child labor issues in the cocoa sector, which included: development of cocoa sector – child labor monitoring systems, digitization of data collection tools, and designing and testing of a community risk assessment tool that helps stakeholders understand the level of protection within the communities they work in. According to Robert Pwazaga, a representative from ILO Ghana; “this forum reflects the strength of partnership and our collective resolve to safeguarding the rights and future of our children”. Young Joo Lee, the Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF Ghana indicated that “UNICEF confirms that we will be standing together with the labor ministry and other partners here to support, accelerate all efforts in ending child labor”.
Child labor is not just a statistic, it is a stolen childhood, a broken future, a silent emergency hiding in plain sight. But Ghana is refusing to be silent. Through bold leadership, unwavering partnerships, and grassroots action, the country is sending a clear message: Now is the time to act faster, smarter, and together. The fight continues, and the future depends on it. The GIZ through SCP remains a key partner to the Ghana Cocoa Board, Child Labor Unit of the MLJE and other stakeholders in combating child labor issues in the Ghanaian cocoa sector. The Sustainable Cocoa Programme (SCP) is funded by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) in collaboration with Ghana Cocoa Board.