In a powerful display of community-driven advocacy, children and youth in Ampeyo, a village in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region, used poetry, drama, and performance art to draw attention to the ongoing fight against child labour as part of the 2025 World Day Against Child Labour commemorations.
Led by the Alliance for Community Resilience and Development (ACRAD) with support from the European Commission in Ghana, the celebration was more than just a symbolic event. It became a vibrant platform for education, empowerment, and mobilisation under the “My Rights, My Future” initiative—a three-year project targeting child labour and trafficking hotspots in cocoa-growing and fishing communities.
The event, held in collaboration with Right To Play (RTP) and Partners in Community Development Programme (PACODEP), brought together community members, child rights advocates, and government agencies to amplify the voices of children through art.
Ms. Priscilla Yawson, Child Protection and Advocacy Specialist at ACRAD, explained that the performances were carefully designed to reflect the realities of many children in rural Ghana, where balancing education and economic survival often places children at risk of exploitation.
“This isn’t just theatre—these performances are the children’s voices telling us that they deserve better. Through this initiative, we are nurturing their talents while also protecting their rights,” she said.
The My Rights, My Future project is active in Krachi East, Krachi West, Kadjebi, and Kpando Municipality. It seeks to strengthen local child protection systems, promote access to quality education, and reduce reliance on child labour through a mix of advocacy, community engagement, and institutional support.
Speaking to parents and local leaders, Ms. Josephine E. G. Baffoe of Right To Play urged greater commitment to keeping children in school.
“We recognise the hard work parents do, but we’re asking that children not be overburdened with labour at the expense of their education. With your help, we’ll be in Ampeyo till 2027—let’s work together to keep our children safe and learning,” she appealed.
Mr. Eric Arthur Fynn of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) called for stronger community vigilance against child trafficking, highlighting the importance of prevention and survivor support.
The message was underscored by Mr. Isaac Robson Klu, Head of Social Welfare and Community Development, who referenced a joint UNICEF-ILO report indicating that 138 million children worldwide were engaged in child labour in 2024, with 54 million involved in hazardous work. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most impacted, accounting for 87 million of these cases.
As part of a long-term solution, Mr. Klu announced the formation of a nine-member Community Child Protection Committee in Ampeyo to sustain local action and provide support structures for at-risk children.
Despite global efforts, the UN’s goal to eliminate child labour by 2025 appears out of reach, but organisers of the Ampeyo celebration remain hopeful. Through grassroots education and creative expression, they believe momentum is building where it matters most—on the ground, in communities, and in the hearts of children determined to rewrite their futures.
The national theme for this year’s World Day Against Child Labour is “Progress is clear, but there’s more to do: Let’s speed up efforts.” And in Ampeyo, that urgency was echoed not through speeches alone, but through the resolute voices of children on stage.
