Sunyani: The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) has secured a $60,000 grant from the Canadian Unifor Social Justice Fund to support the fight against child labour in cocoa growing communities in parts of the Bono and Ashanti Regions. The GloMeF is an anti-corruption media advocacy non-profit organisation working to promote social change, human rights, and community development.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF, revealed in an interview that the grant will be used for the 'Rights4Cocoa: Protecting Children's Rights in Ghana's Cocoa Sector' project. This initiative aims to eliminate child labour in cocoa-growing communities by improving access to education, enhancing community awareness, and promoting sustainable economic alternatives for families.
Mr Ahenu stated that the 24-month project intends to benefit more than 1,000 children who are involved in, and at risk of, child labour in the cocoa growing communities of Dormaa West, Dormaa Municipality of the Bono Region, and Ahafo-Ano North Cocoa District of the Ashanti Region. The project aims to improve the economic stability of 500 cocoa farming households through the adoption of sustainable farming practices, potentially leading to a 20 percent increase in household incomes.
Additionally, Mr Ahenu mentioned that the project will enhance financial literacy and access to microcredit for 200 cocoa farmers, which will contribute to the growth of small businesses and improved economic resilience. Despite the economic benefits of cocoa, cocoa farming communities face significant challenges, including high levels of poverty and child labour, he stated.
According to the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), approximately 770,000 children are engaged in hazardous child labour in Ghana's cocoa sector. Mr Ahenu noted that these children often miss school and are exposed to dangerous working conditions, such as carrying heavy loads, exposure to agrochemicals, and working with sharp tools. He expressed concern that the persistence of child labour undermines the future prospects of these children and perpetuates the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
Addressing child labour in cocoa-growing communities is crucial for Ghana's commitment to international conventions and protocols aimed at eliminating child labour. Tackling this issue in the cocoa sector requires a comprehensive and sustained effort to improve educational access, provide economic alternatives, raise awareness, and strengthen community and institutional capacities to protect children's rights.
