The Assembly Member for the Maabang Electoral Area in the Ahafo-Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Robertson Kwadwo Ahanu, has called on government and key stakeholders in the cocoa sector to intensify and adopt more strategic measures to combat the persistent problem of child labour in cocoa-growing communities.
According to him, child labour continues to pose a serious challenge to Ghana’s agricultural sector, particularly in cocoa-dependent areas where poverty, limited access to quality education, and weak social protection systems expose children to exploitation.
Hon. Ahanu made the call at Maabang during a presentation of learning materials to selected vulnerable pupils of Maabang Presbyterian Primary and Junior High School by the Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF) under its Rights4Cocoa Project, funded by the Unifor Social Justice Fund -Canada.
Speaking at the event, the Assembly Member expressed concern that despite years of interventions and commitments by government, cocoa companies, and development partners, child labour remains widespread in many farming communities.
“Child labour is not just a violation of children’s rights; it is a development failure that continues to affect our cocoa sector. Government and stakeholders must move beyond commitments to implementing more effective, community-driven strategies that address the root causes of the problem,” he stated.
Hon. Ahanu cited recent statistics from UNICEF, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Ghana Statistical Service, which indicate that approximately 21 percent of children aged 5–17 in Ghana are engaged in child labour, with the majority involved in hazardous agricultural activities. He noted that in cocoa-growing communities, the prevalence is often significantly higher.
He stressed that while multi-stakeholder initiatives such as child labour monitoring systems, certification schemes, and sensitization programmes have contributed to some progress, results have been uneven and insufficient to eliminate the practice.
“In communities like Maabang, poverty and lack of support for vulnerable households’ force children into farm work at the expense of their education. This is why interventions must focus on household livelihoods, access to education, and community ownership of child protection efforts,” he added.
The Rights4Cocoa Project, implemented by Global Media Foundation, aims to promote child rights, decent work, and accountability in cocoa-growing communities through advocacy, community engagement, and support for vulnerable children. The donation of learning materials, according to GLOMEF, is intended to reduce barriers to school attendance and encourage children to remain in school.
Addressing participants at the event, representatives of Global Media Foundation reaffirmed their commitment to working with traditional authorities, schools, parents, and local government structures to tackle child labour through rights-based and community-led approaches.
“Ending child labour in cocoa communities requires collective responsibility. We must strengthen local child protection systems and ensure that children are protected, educated, and given the opportunity to thrive,” a GLOMEF representative noted.
Teachers and school authorities at Maabang Presbyterian Primary and JHS welcomed the support, describing it as timely, especially for pupils from economically disadvantaged households. They called for sustained interventions to improve learning conditions and reduce school dropouts linked to child labour.
Hon. Ahanu concluded by urging cocoa sector actors, including COCOBOD, licensed buying companies, civil society organizations, and development partners, to deepen collaboration at the community level to ensure that Ghana’s cocoa is produced without the exploitation of children.
“The future of our cocoa sector depends on the well-being and education of our children. We must act now and act together,” he emphasized.
The Headteacher of Maabang Presby Junior High School, Mr. Boateng James, expressed profound gratitude to GLOMEF Ghana and its funding partner for the intervention. According to him, the support has come at a crucial time for many pupils who struggle to access basic learning materials.
“This donation will go a long way to support our vulnerable pupils and enhance teaching and learning in our school. Many parents in this community are cocoa farmers with limited income, so providing these materials will reduce the burden on them and encourage children to stay focused on their education,” Mr. Boateng James stated.
He further commended GLOMEF Ghana for selecting schools in rural cocoa-growing communities and appealed for continued support to help improve infrastructure and learning conditions in the area.
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