Executive Secretary of ICEDEG Africa, Ellen Ofosu Asieduaa
The Executive Secretary of the Iustum Center for Development and Governance (ICEDEG Africa), Ellen Ofosu Asieduaa, has called for renewed efforts to eliminate child labour, stressing that childhood must be protected and not treated as a source of labour.
In a social media message to mark this year’s World Day Against Child Labour, she urged governments, institutions, communities and families to work together to safeguard the rights and welfare of children.
According to her, every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and develop in a safe environment free from exploitation.
Ms. Ofosu Asieduaa noted that international and national legal frameworks clearly prohibit exploitative child labour and provide protections for children.
She referenced the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which guarantees every child protection from economic exploitation and work that is hazardous or interferes with education and development.
In Ghana, she said, these protections are reinforced through the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) and the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which establish standards on the minimum age for employment and conditions of work.
According to her, the laws affirm every child’s right to education, development and protection from harmful labour practices.
Beyond Legislation
While acknowledging the importance of legal safeguards, the ICEDEG Africa Executive Secretary stressed that legislation alone is insufficient to end child labour, calling for stronger enforcement of existing laws, improved access to quality education, increased economic support for vulnerable families and sustained public awareness campaigns.
“Protecting children is not only a legal obligation; it is a moral and societal duty,” she stated.
Ms. Ofosu Asieduaa urged citizens to speak out against child exploitation, support child protection systems and advocate for policies that keep children in school and away from harmful work environments.
Ghana’s Future
She emphasized that ending child labour is essential to securing the future of the country, noting that children who are denied education and exposed to exploitation are often deprived of opportunities to reach their full potential.
“A child’s place is in a classroom, not in labour,” she stated.
The World Day Against Child Labour is observed annually to raise awareness about the plight of millions of children worldwide who remain engaged in work that threatens their health, education and overall development.
