Ghana marks World Day Against Child Labour with renewed call for collective action
Ghana marked the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour with awareness-raising activities and community engagement events to promote children's rights and decent work for adults. The activities were supported by the ILO's ACCEL Africa project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.
15 June 2026
ACCRA (ILO News) - Ghana joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour under the theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults.” The commemoration brought together government institutions, development partners, community leaders, children, and other stakeholders to intensify advocacy and awareness on the prevention and elimination of child labour in the country.
As part of the national activities, the ACCEL Africa Project joined development partners in Accra on 5 June 2026 to organize a float through the principal streets of Accra. The float formed part of the official launch and public awareness campaign aimed at drawing national attention to the harmful effects of child labour and the need for collective action to eliminate it.
The activities continued on 12 June 2026, the official World Day Against Child Labour, with the ACCEL Africa Project team joining two project communities for local-level commemorative events. One of the highlights of the celebration was special community football games involving children. The games symbolized teamwork, fair play, and the importance of protecting children from exploitative labour and ensuring they enjoy their right to education and recreation. Children also performed poetry recitals that highlighted the dangers of child labour and emphasized the value of education in securing a better future for every child.
District-level stakeholders, traditional authorities, and community leaders took turns addressing participants and calling on parents, caregivers, employers, and community members to collectively “show red card to child labour.” Speakers stressed the importance of keeping children in school, promoting decent work for adults, and strengthening community vigilance against exploitative child labour practices.
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, play, and develop in a safe environment free from exploitation… we can collectively show a red card to child labour and ensure a brighter future for our children.
Bismark Quartey - ACCEL Africa National Project Coordinator in Ghana
The commemoration reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Ghana, the ILO, and partners to continue working together to eliminate child labour through awareness creation, community engagement, education, and strengthened collaboration among stakeholders.
The ACCEL Africa Project continues to support efforts aimed at accelerating action for the elimination of child labour, particularly in vulnerable communities and sectors where children remain at risk.
Relevant projects
Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa)