By Ashiadey Dotse
Stakeholders in Ghana’s cocoa industry have raised concerns over the continued use of child labour in cocoa-growing communities and are calling for urgent action to address the issue.
At the launch of the Rights4Cocoa: Protecting Children’s Rights in Ghana’s Cocoa Sector project in Abesim, near Sunyani, representatives from Ghana COCOBOD, farmer cooperatives, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and civil society organisations stressed the need for a collective effort to eliminate child labour.
The two-year project, led by the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) with support from the Unifor Social Justice Fund in Canada, aims to tackle child labour in the cocoa industry.
Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Founder and CEO of GloMeF, described the situation as alarming.
“It is unfortunate and disturbing that thousands of children are engaged in hazardous labour, deprived of education, and stripped of their childhood. The time to change this narrative is now,” he said.
He called for stricter enforcement of child protection laws, educational support for communities, and accountability from companies to ensure ethical cocoa sourcing.
Mr. Benjamin Quarson, Deputy Bono Regional Director of Education, emphasised the importance of community leaders, parents, and stakeholders working together to end child labour. He highlighted the need to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes quality education for all children.
Some cocoa farmers pointed out that a lack of accessible schools in cocoa-growing areas forces children to work on farms instead of attending school. They urged the government to invest in educational infrastructure to keep children in classrooms.
Mr. Edward Ayabilah, Programme Manager at GloMeF, said the project would collaborate with civil society groups, traditional leaders, private companies, and international partners to create a sustainable cocoa industry that protects children’s rights.
“We will not only amplify the voices of affected children and their families but also push for policy reforms that bring lasting change,” he said.
The Rights4Cocoa project aims to ensure that Ghana’s cocoa industry does not continue to grow at the expense of children’s futures.
