The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has raised concerns about the persistent problem of child labour in Ghana, warning that the practice continues to deny thousands of children access to education despite existing legal protections and international commitments aimed at ending it.
In a statement issued on June 12, 2026, to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, the Commission stressed that protecting the rights of children remains a key measure of any society’s commitment to human dignity and social justice.
“The fulfilment of children’s rights is among the most fundamental measures of a society’s commitment to human dignity and social justice,” CHRAJ stated.
According to the Commission, child labour remains a significant obstacle to the well-being and development of children, depriving many of their right to education, protection and a safe childhood.
It noted that the challenge persists despite legal safeguards contained in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), and international agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
CHRAJ described the scale of the problem as worrying, pointing to global estimates showing that about 138 million children are engaged in child labour, with nearly 54 million involved in hazardous work.
The Commission also cited data from the Ghana Statistical Service indicating that more than 1.1 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 were engaged in economic activities in 2023. Of that number, more than 458,000 were not attending school.
“Alarmingly, over 458,000 of these children were not attending school,” the statement said.
CHRAJ noted that the figures highlight the reality that many children continue to miss out on educational opportunities that could help improve their lives and break the cycle of poverty.
The Commission therefore called for renewed national efforts to combat child labour under the 2026 theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.”
It emphasized that child labour is not only a social and economic concern but also a violation of rights guaranteed under both Ghanaian law and international conventions.
CHRAJ further urged government, employers, communities and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to address the conditions that expose children to exploitation, warning that failure to act could worsen inequality and undermine the country’s long-term development goals.
Source: Adomonline.com
