Mr Bright Wireku Brobbey, a Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations (MoELR), on Thursday urged the media to champion the fight against child labour in the country.

“The role of the media to protect children from all dangers particularly, child labour is non-negotiable,” Mr Brobbey said in Accra at the media launch of the 2019 World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL).

It is on the theme: “Consolidating Efforts: Children Must Work on Dreams not in Fields”.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) the term child labour is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

The WDACL, which falls on June 12, will be observed in Ghana at Effiduase in the Ashanti Region.

According to the 2017 global estimates of child labour, 154 million children are in child labour and almost half of them, that is, 73 million work in hazardous child labour.

The statistics reveals that approximately every one out of five children is engaged in child labour.

Mr Brobbey said the objectives of this year’s WDACL include, looking back on the progress made over the last century as well as looking forward towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.

He said it was worthy to note that this year marks one hundred years since the formation of the ILO and as a tripartite body, it had consistently advanced social justice and the promotion of decent work which aims at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 8.7 which was set with the view to ending all forms of child labour by 2025.

He said in Ghana 21.8 per cent of children were estimated to be child labourers and more than six in ten of them were engaged in hazardous work.

He said this was both a violation to their constitutional rights and national development.

“Despite the policies and other social interventions put in place by government such as the Capitation Grant for children in basic schools, it would be difficult for the country to reduce the prevalence rate of child labour if we do not accelerate and intensify our efforts substantially,” Mr Brobbey stated.

He said this year’s theme provides stakeholders with a fresh zeal to re-dedicate their efforts to fight for the right of all children, including taking them out of the field where many hazards exist and to support them to follow their dreams to bring out their potentials.

“When we encourage our children to follow their dreams, it boosts their confidence and make them goal achievers”, he said.

Mr Mike Arthur, National Coordinator, International Cocoa Initiative said they were developing cutting edge innovative strategies to address forced and child labour.

He said such structures were being developed at the community level to Prevent the worst forms of child labour and reduce the exposure of children to risk of harm on farms.

Mr Emmanuel Kwame Mensah, National Programmes Coordinator, ILO Caring Gold Mining Project reiterated that the Sustainable Development Agenda’s deadline for eliminating child labour by 2025 was achievable.