Curious Minds Ghana has applauded European Union for marking the 2021 year of Elimination of Child Labour with a sing-along concert last Friday at Alisa Hotel in Accra.

The concert was organized by the Ghana Employment and Social Protection Programme (GESP) and funded by European Union. Also present to support the awareness campaign were; the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Diplomatic Corps, Goodwill Ambassador Wiyaala and other important stakeholders.

Appending their support to champion the cause on the wall of pledge, Curious Minds designate, Mr. Samuel Quaye has shared what CM has done in the past to fight against the global canker. “With regards to what Curious Minds has done in the past, we have campaigned against the worst forms of Child Labour, and we have also joined the Anti-Child Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service. Over the years, CM focused its campaign in rural and farming areas, specifically in cocoa farms. We have been part of local and international campaigns to implore law enforcers to step the fight in apprehending culprits who sell children into labour.”

Mr. Quaye also addressed how we have overlooked certain activities that border on child labour. “Even in urban settings, certain situations that constitute child labour have been overlooked such as giving children away to ‘supposed’ family relatives for grooming. In most cases, these children are subjected to perform jobs and tasks that are beyond their capability hence depriving them of their education and development. Our campaigns sought to sensitize the public on the physical, mental and emotional dangers it presents to the children.”

Finally, he teased Curious Mind’s effort to eradicate the oppressive phenomenon in 2021 and subsequent years. “Curious Minds will build on last year and use social media massively as a tool to appeal to our social audience and the general public to fight against child labour. We welcome partnerships to champion this cause together.”

Co-host of Curious Minds Radio Show on Uniiq FM, Amidatu Kassim believes that children have the right to access basic necessities for their proper development- one in their best interest. “Children have the right to quality education, food and shelter which they must be allowed to enjoy. Child labour infringes on the rights of these children. In order to further the fight towards the eradication of child labour, stakeholders, CSOs and other agencies must come together and work to end child labour for proper child development.”

According to child labour experts, almost half of child labour happens in Africa (72 million children), followed by Asia and the Pacific (62 million). 70% of children in child labour work in agriculture, mainly in subsistence and commercial farming and herding livestock. This is unacceptable!

We call on all regional, national, and organizational stakeholders to not only take action on the issue, but also raise awareness and share experiences. We are calling on all stakeholders to make a 2021 Action Pledge, which will collectively pave the way to ending child labour by 2025.

By: Emmanuel Bossman (Curious Minds, GIJ-Chapter)