PLANS TO REDUCE CHILD LABOUR IN GHANA - Educate Ghana

23/09/2011 - Ghana's government is working to greatly reduce child labour on cocoa farms by 2020. Meanwhile, key cocoa companies have made their own contributions to children's rights.

Ghana's Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare has set a target to eliminate child labouron cocoa farms by 20 per cent by the end of 2020.

This target is part of the realization of the 2001 Harkin-Engel Protocol, which seeks to reduce the worst forms of child labour in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire (in aggregate terms). As per the protocol, both countries should commit resources to keeping children in school, including the provision of school uniforms and other necessary forms of support. Children too old to attend school should be provided with apprenticeships/vocational training to give them a chance at a brighter future.

Under the government's plan, the initiative will begin with a national programme that will be eventually phased out. At this point, municipal and district authorities will take over responsibilities for carrying out the protocol and keeping children away from cocoa farms.

Côte d'Ivoire is the world's leading producer of cocoa, accounting for 40 per cent of global production. Its neighbour to the east, Ghana, is the runner up.

Ghana's Minister for Employment and Social Welfare, Enoch Teye Mensah, has further called for stronger inter-sectoral partnerships to stop violations of children's rights such as trafficking and child labour. Mr. Mensah made this request at a launch for the West Africa Network (WAN) for the protection of vulnerable and migrant children.

The WAN was formed under the umbrella of the Research and Counselling Foundation for African Migrants. The theme of the launch is "Protecting the Child – Everybody’s Business." Enforcing the WAN should involve governments, civil society members, local authorities and community members. In other words, the responsibility for respecting children's rights isn’t just for international organizations, lawmakers or parents.

The WAN is supported by several international donors, including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, European Commission and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is hoped that the WAN will lead to cooperation and the harmonization of procedures and interventions among ECOWAS member states. The Network has already integrated 1,700 children into family-based care with individual reintegration packages including schooling or income-generating activities. To ensure child protection, monitoring provisions guarantee a two-year follow-up.

"We develop the capacity to keep a close eye on these minors and ensure the protection of their basic human rights," said the Minister.

Ghanaian legislation protecting children includes the 2005 Human Trafficking Act and the 1998 Children's Act and Regulations. Steps have already been taken to bring the Children's Act into conformity with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour. To this end, Ghana has finalized a National Plan of Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2015.

Key corporate players in the cocoa industry are also doing their part to build a safer world for West Africa's children. Recently, the ILO signed a new partnership deal to fight child labour with eight companies operating in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire: ADM, Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Ferrero, the Hershey Company, Kraft Foods, Mars Incorporated and Nestlé. The companies have pledged $2 million to the ILO's Public-Private Partnership programme. Over the next four years, this money will support the ILO's work to strengthen the capacity of governments, farmers and other stakeholders; as well as to support the development of community-based child monitoring programmes and the enhance coordination of national steering committees.