Accra: Ms Olivia Ziem Tizaayel, a Child Protection Specialist at Right To Play Ghana, has urged traditional authorities to rigorously enforce byelaws against parents who involve children in child labour.
According to Ghana News Agency, child labour is any activity that physically or psychologically affects a child or denies them access to education and development.
Ms Tizaayel’s call was made during a national stakeholder engagement in Accra, aiming to combat child labour in cocoa-growing and fishing communities through enhanced collaboration. She emphasized that children should not be engaged in work either on farms or canoes, especially during school hours or in any manner that affects their health or development.
She highlighted the role of traditional authorities as community influencers, urging them to implement strict sanctions against those promoting child labour, without bias or favoritism towards family or friends. The responsibility to fight child labour lies with everyone, she added, encouraging community members to report incidents to Community Child Protection Committees, the Department of Social Welfare, or the police.
Ms Tizaayel discussed Right To Play’s current projects, ‘For My Life, My Rights,’ and ‘My Rights, My Future,’ which aim to strengthen protective environments in areas where children are often involved in cocoa supply chains and fishing activities. The projects focus on improving access to quality education and strengthening protection mechanisms, especially in communities lacking schools.
Mr Evans Sirikari, Acting Country Director of Right To Play, noted that the organization collaborates with the European Commission and local partners to eliminate child labour through a coordinated approach, addressing the challenge of inadequate coordination among stakeholders. He stressed the importance of a common agenda for stakeholders while allowing for specific activities that contribute to a national effort.
Right To Play has established child protection committees and school-based clubs to educate children about their rights and responsibilities. The initiative aims to build resilience in children and engage community leaders in supporting the program, ultimately strengthening the national child protection system.
The three-year initiative seeks to create sustainable structures that will function beyond the project’s duration, with government agencies assuming responsibility for the established mechanisms to ensure long-term protection for vulnerable children. The engagement involved key national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Ministry of Education.
For nearly 25 years, Right To Play has partnered with local entities in Ghana to deliver programs focused on high-quality education, girls’ empowerment, and health and well-being.
