The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has renewed its commitment to eliminating child labour in cocoa growing communities, calling for stronger action to protect children and keep them in school.
Marking the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour on 12th June, COCOBOD said children should be learning and developing their talents rather than engaging in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety and education.
The Board joined the global observance of the day under the theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults”, describing it as a call for governments, businesses, communities and families to work together to end child labour and tackle the conditions that drive it.
According to COCOBOD, protecting children must go hand in hand with improving livelihoods for adults, particularly in rural farming communities where poverty and household vulnerability remain major causes of child labour.
As regulator of Ghana’s cocoa sector, the Board said it remains committed to ensuring cocoa production respects children’s rights and promotes their welfare.
COCOBOD noted that Ghana has made significant progress in addressing child labour through collaboration between government institutions, development partners, cocoa buying companies, civil society groups, traditional leaders and farming communities.
It said these efforts have increased awareness, strengthened child protection systems, improved access to education and provided greater support for vulnerable households.
The Board highlighted a number of measures being implemented in cocoa growing areas, including farmer education programmes, child protection initiatives, livelihood support projects and educational assistance schemes. It also pointed to the Cocoa Management System, which it said is helping improve traceability, sustainability and responsible production across the cocoa value chain.
COCOBOD said its productivity improvement programmes, free input support, farm rehabilitation projects and farmer welfare interventions are also aimed at boosting household incomes and reducing the risk of children being pushed into labour.
The Board further reaffirmed its commitment to meeting international sustainability and human rights standards as Ghana prepares for the full implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation in December 2026.
Despite the progress made, COCOBOD acknowledged that child labour remains a challenge and called on parents, teachers, community leaders, farmer groups, licensed buying companies, development partners and the media to play their part in protecting children.
It urged cocoa farmers and other stakeholders to recommit themselves to promoting education and preventing children from engaging in hazardous work.
“Together, we can accelerate progress and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve their full potential,” the Board said.
