Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Ghana (Ratification: 2000)

Articles 3(d) and 6 of the Convention. Hazardous work in the agricultural sector, including cocoa farms. National Programme for the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in the Cocoa Industry (NPECLC). Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information concerning its ongoing activities within the framework of the NPECLC, including the development of an action plan (2010–11). It further welcomes the development of the manual for agents of change in communities in Ghana, which was developed with ILO–IPEC assistance in 2014 to, among others, eliminate child labour in hazardous work in Ghana’s cocoa farms. It notes, however, the statistical data contained in the manual, according to which most children aged 5–17 years engaged in labour in the country are found in the agricultural sector, with 23.3 per cent of the children covered (1,846,126) engaged in at least one hazardous activity with 10 per cent in cocoa-specific hazardous activities. The Committee notes with concern the significant number of children below 18 years of age engaged in hazardous conditions of work in the agricultural sector, including in the cocoa industry. The Committee strongly requests the Government to continue to strengthen its efforts, including within the framework of the NPECLC, to eliminate this worst form of child labour. Moreover, noting that the action plan (2010–11) has expired, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated information concerning any new action plan, either envisaged or elaborated, and to submit a copy of any finalized text.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour and providing the necessary and appropriate direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. 1. Trafficking. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that ILO–IPEC was supporting a national programme which focused on, among others, the worst forms of child labour in traditional fishing. The Committee notes the Analytical Study on Child Labour in Lake Volta Fishing in Ghana, which was carried out in 2013 with ILO–IPEC assistance, which found that working children are engaged in hazardous fishing activities and are confronted with poor working conditions (for example, they do not receive wages and do not have contracts of employment). Among the children engaged in fishing activities, 11 per cent were aged 5–9 years and 20 per cent were aged 10–14 years. Furthermore, according to the data in the study, 47 per cent of children engaged in fishing in Lake Volta were involved in trafficking, 3 per cent were involved in bondage, 45 per cent were engaged in forced labour and 3 per cent were engaged in sex slavery. Finally, the Committee notes the Strategic Intervention and Action Plan Framework that has been proposed in the study. The Committee notes with deep concern the prevalence of children who have been trafficked or sold into fishing activities, or are otherwise engaged in hazardous fishing activities in the Lake Volta region. It accordingly urges the Government to strengthen its efforts, including within the Strategic Intervention and Action Plan Framework, to ensure that these children are removed from the worst forms of child labour and provided with appropriate support services for their rehabilitation and social integration. It requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of measures in this regard, including on the number of child victims of trafficking who have been removed and rehabilitated, as a result of the measures taken.

2. Trokosi system. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, despite the Government’s efforts to withdraw children from trokosi (a ritual in which teenage girls are pledged to a period of service at a local shrine to atone for another family member’s sins), the situation remained prevalent in the country.

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report provides no new information concerning its programmatic measures to prevent and remove children from the trokosi system. It notes that, under the National Plan of Action (NPA) for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (2009–15) (Issue 2.1.4), the Government aims to implement programmes to facilitate an attitudinal change with regard to traditional practices towards children’s rights. It notes, however, that according to the Government’s reply to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW/C/GHA/Q/6-7/Add.1, paragraph 33) in 2014, despite its efforts, the trokosi practice remains prevalent in the country. The Committee urges the Government to strengthen its efforts to prevent the engagement of children into trokosi ritual servitude and to put an end to this traditional practice as a matter of urgency, taking account of the special situation of girls. It requests the Government to indicate the measures taken in this regard and the results achieved. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of children under 18 years of age who are, in practice, removed from trokosi and rehabilitated.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2016.]