Mr. Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, the General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of Ghana, has advocated for the rigorous enforcement of laws against child labor and trafficking within cocoa-growing communities.
He emphasized that the ongoing exploitation of children continues to undermine their fundamental rights, education, health, and future prospects.
In a conversation with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Mr. Tagoe noted that although Ghana has made progress through policy interventions, public education campaigns, and community-based monitoring systems, numerous children in cocoa-producing regions remain exposed to hazardous work.
Such work includes the use of sharp tools, carrying heavy loads, and engaging in activities that pose risks to their safety and development.
He highlighted that child trafficking and exploitative child labor are offenses under Ghanaian law and urged law enforcement agencies to intensify investigations and prosecutions to deter offenders.
Mr. Tagoe explained that children belong in classrooms, not on farms performing dangerous tasks that could jeopardize their education and well-being, potentially affecting their physical development as well.
He pointed out that poverty, low household incomes, inadequate access to social services, and limited educational opportunities in some rural communities continue to drive the practice, making it imperative for authorities to address both the symptoms and root causes of the problem.
He called for increased investment in education, social protection programs, and livelihood support for cocoa-farming households to alleviate the economic pressures that often compel families to involve children in farm activities.
The GAWU General Secretary advocated for stronger collaboration among traditional leaders, parents, teachers, cocoa-buying companies, civil society organizations, and government institutions to reinforce child protection systems at the community level.
He stated that government agencies and development partners have demonstrated that community-based child protection mechanisms, climate-smart agriculture initiatives, and child labor monitoring systems can help reduce the incidence of child labor while enhancing household resilience.
Public education and awareness creation in cocoa communities are crucial in helping community members understand the dangers of child trafficking and child labor and the long-term consequences for affected children and national development.
He urged residents in cocoa-growing areas to report suspected cases of child trafficking and child labor to the appropriate authorities for immediate action, stressing that silence only permits the practice to continue unchecked.
According to him, Ghana’s cocoa industry can only maintain its reputation and sustainability when children are protected from exploitation and given the opportunity to learn, grow, and realize their full potential.
He called on everyone, including the media, to assist in educating the public about the dangers of child trafficking and child labor.
Children should be engaged in household chores, not hazardous work that could harm them.
By Dorothy Frances Ward, GNA
Source: Access Agric
