The International Labour Organisation (ILO), alongside its Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB) project, held a review meeting to incorporate child labor indicators into the LEAP (Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty) Management Information System. This initiative is aimed at reducing poverty and addressing child and forced labor in Ghana.
Key stakeholders, including the Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS), Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), and others, participated in the meeting to discuss strategies for integrating child labor indicators into the LEAP program, which benefits vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.
Tackling Child Labor in Ghana
Paul Asamoah Kukwaw, National Programme Officer for the ILO-GALAB project, highlighted that child labor is prevalent in sectors like fishing, mining, and agriculture, with many children subjected to abuse and forced labor, particularly in the fisheries sector around Lake Volta. The ILO-GALAB project, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, is working to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to combat these issues.
LEAP’s Impact
Dr. Myles Ongoh, Director of the LEAP Secretariat, shared that the LEAP initiative currently supports 1.5 million people nationwide. The bi-monthly cash grants have been doubled to address rising living costs, with households receiving increased amounts based on the number of eligible members.
Addressing Poverty and Child Labor
Abena Dufie Akonu-Atta, Case Manager for the Social Welfare Information Management System (SWIMS), emphasized that poverty drives child labor in Ghana. The SWIMS system is being used to help address child labor by coordinating resources and providing support to affected families.
Child Labor Statistics
Anthony Oduro-Denkyirah, Statistician with the Ghana Statistical Service, revealed that nearly 900,000 children are engaged in paid work, with the majority in rural areas. He called for greater focus on children’s access to education and protection from exploitative work.
The review meeting reinforced the need for collaborative action to eliminate child labor and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations through the LEAP program
Credit :daily agric news .
