The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating child labour within the cocoa sector, calling on farmers, community leaders, development partners, and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to protect children and promote their right to education.
In a statement marking the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour, observed on June 12, COCOBOD said children belong in classrooms and safe learning environments rather than in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety, and future development.
The Board joined the global community in commemorating the day under the theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” which highlights the need to tackle child labour while creating sustainable livelihoods and decent employment opportunities for adults.
According to COCOBOD, significant progress has been made over the years through collaboration between government institutions, development partners, cocoa-buying companies, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, and farming communities.
These efforts, the Board noted, have strengthened child protection systems, increased awareness of child labour issues, improved access to education, and provided support to vulnerable households in cocoa-growing areas.
COCOBOD said it continues to implement several interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of child labour, including farmer sensitisation programmes, child protection initiatives, educational support schemes, and livelihood improvement projects.
The Board also highlighted the role of the Cocoa Management System (CMS) in enhancing traceability, sustainability, and responsible production practices throughout Ghana’s cocoa value chain.
Recognising poverty as a major driver of child labour, COCOBOD said its productivity enhancement programmes, free input support initiatives, farm rehabilitation projects, and farmer welfare interventions are designed to improve household incomes and reduce economic pressures that often lead to child labour.
The Board further reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s cocoa industry meets international sustainability and human rights standards as the country prepares for the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in December 2026.
Despite the gains made, COCOBOD acknowledged that child labour remains a challenge and called for continued collaboration among parents, teachers, community leaders, farmer organisations, licensed buying companies, development partners, and the media.
The Board urged all stakeholders to recommit to safeguarding children, promoting education, and preventing the involvement of minors in hazardous work, stressing that a sustainable and productive cocoa sector can only be achieved when the rights and welfare of children are fully protected.
“Together, we can accelerate progress and ensure that every child enjoys the opportunity to learn, grow, and realise his or her full potential,” the statement said.
