Accelerating TOGETHER Action Against Child Labour in Ghana

Accra, Ghana, March 20, 2024 – Ghana marks a pivotal milestone in the battle against child labour with the launch of the Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa) project. This groundbreaking initiative is a result of the collaborative efforts between the International Labour Organization (ILO), supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of Ghana.

The launch, which was done jointly with other child labour projects by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the theme “Accelerating TOGETHER Action Against Child Labour in Ghana”, brought together government officials, international delegates, and development partners, including representative of the Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, and representatives from UNICEF, JICA, The World Bank, and ICI. The ceremony underscored a unified commitment to eradicating child labour, demonstrated through the Ghana Accelerated Action Plan Against Child Labour 2023-2027 and in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7.

Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, in his keynote speech, called upon all stakeholders within the project's scope to join forces, leveraging their collective resources and expertise to broaden the impact of interventions aimed at curbing child labour. The event also heard voices from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, all echoing the urgent need to end child labour, enhance collaboration among projects, avoid redundancy, and optimize the use of resources for maximal effectiveness.

Ms. Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the ECOWAS Liaison Office, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the urgency of the course that unites stakeholders globally and in Ghana. The ACCEL Africa Project, underpinned by an innovative system-building approach, targets the elimination of child labour in critical supply chains such as cocoa and gold. Building on the success of its first phase in six countries, the project's expansion into Ghana, as a new beneficiary, is a testament to the fruitful partnership between the ILO and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ghana's role as a pathfinder country in Alliance 8.7.

The ACCEL Africa project aims to create synergies with existing ILO efforts like the Global Accelerator Lab (GALAB) and the Trade for Decent Work (T4DW) projects, to strengthen systems addressing the root causes of child labour. In collaboration with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, the initiative will focus on policy support, capacity building, promoting social protection, enhancing occupational safety, and improving the livelihoods of workers in the lower tiers of supply chains.

Highlighting the multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder approach essential in this fight, Ms. Phala acknowledged the complementary efforts of UNICEF/ICI, JICA, and the World Bank. She extended gratitude to the Government of Ghana for their commitment and to the Government of the Netherlands for their financial support and valuable insights from managing a portfolio of child labour projects across Africa.

A comprehensive presentation outlined the objectives, operational scopes, and anticipated outcomes of the ACCEL Africa project, along with the Child Labour Public Private Partnership Project by UNICEF and the Child Labour Free Zones Project by JICA, showcasing the collaborative spirit that underpins these initiatives.

Following the combination presentation, ACCEL Africa project was successfully launched by the Ministry, together with the other projects. ACCEL Africa project implementation in Ghana will start in collaboration with the tripartite partners, civil society organizations, project district representatives, among others following the successful launch.

With the successful launch of the ACCEL Africa project, alongside the complementary efforts of UNICEF and JICA, Ghana sets forth on a determined path to eliminate child labour, with the project set to commence in earnest among the Tripartite Partners, civil society organizations, and project districts.

This launch not only marks a pivotal moment in Ghana's commitment to eradicating child labour but also serves as a beacon of hope for the countless children who stand to benefit from a future of freedom and opportunity.