Ghana marks milestone in child labour elimination through cocoa project 

Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating child labour in cocoa-growing communities following the successful completion of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)/Japanese Climate-Cocoa Project. 

The initiative, launched in March 2025, sought to link environmental sustainability with social protection while strengthening farmers’ resilience to climate change. It was implemented in Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai in the Western North Region. 

Delivering the keynote address at the National Closure of the Cocoa Climate Project in Accra, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, said the project promoted climate-smart agricultural practices, including biochar technology, to restore soil fertility and increase productivity. 

He said by diversifying livelihoods and reducing dependence on unpredictable rainfall, farmers had been empowered to innovate rather than succumb to the pressures of climate change. 

Dr Pelpuo noted that child labour had long been linked to rural poverty and environmental degradation, but the shift in farming practices had removed the economic pressures that often forced families to rely on child labour. 

He said the establishment of Child Labour Free Zones had transformed communities into vigilant guardians of children’s welfare and aligned with Ghana’s constitutional and labour laws that protect children’s rights and promote decent work. 

The Minister described the project as both a social protection intervention and a practical mechanism for implementing national legal mandates at the community level. 

“By strengthening, monitoring and reporting through the Child Labour Unit and integrating efforts under the ACCEL Africa Project, Ghana has built a more transparent and accountable cocoa supply chain,” he said.

Dr Pelpuo commended the International Labour Organisation and the Government of Japan for their support, noting that their collaboration had enhanced Ghana’s cocoa brand globally, recognised not only for quality but also for ethical production standards. 

Mr. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, said cocoa remained a pillar of Ghana’s economy and a major source of livelihood for many families, but its success must not come at the expense of children. 

He said the project strengthened the livelihoods of cocoa farmers through cost-effective and environmentally sustainable soil improvement solutions, reinforced the Child Labour Free Zone mechanism to help communities prevent and respond to child labour cases, and promoted knowledge sharing and capacity building among local stakeholders. 

Participants at the event, including officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the International Labour Organisation, farmers and representatives of the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Assembly, said lessons from the project should serve as a model for scaling interventions across cocoa-growing regions. 

The government pledged to continue refining policies, strengthening enforcement and supporting communities to ensure that cocoa production reflects prosperity, ethical standards and sustainability. 

Source: GNA 

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