Emmanuel Kwame Mensah of ILO Ghana office

World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) is commemorated on 12 June each year. This year, the theme; Generation Safe and Healthy, looks at the global needs to improve the safety and health of young workers and ending child labour in relation to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) target 8.7 of ending all forms of Child Labour by 2025.

Child Labour is any work that affects a child’s education, health and safety. By the Children’s Act 560 of Ghana, section 87 subsection 1. It clearly states that “no person shall engage a child in exploitative labour”. It further explains the fact that Child Labour becomes exploitative if it deprives the child of its Health, Education and Development.

On the occasion of the press launch towards WDACL, Ghana Cocoa Board which is also a partner in the elimination of worst forms of child labour mentioned that the outfit has made some interventions to curb the menace. One of such intervention is the involvement of radio stations and other media outlets as key bodies who can educate, create awareness and sensitize people in general about child labour.

In addition, Ghana Cocoa Board has mainstreamed child labour education in it activities to ensure that children are not used in the production processes. The recent launch of the National Plan of Action(2) on the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour, underscores government’s intervention to pursue the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. It will also consolidate the gains made under NPA(1) by reinforcing the linkages between the various child development policies and providing a vehicle for the continued enforcement of relevant laws.

Binta Alhassan

CYIB – Curious Minds