The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that globally there are over 168 million children in child labour. Despite gains in growth performance and poverty reduction, issues of child labour remain rife in Ghana.

The country has pursued various programmes aimed at reducing Child Labour and its worst forms, however the decline in the number of cases has been slow. The 2001 Ghana Child Labour Survey report from the Ghana Statistical Service published in 2003, estimated that 242,000 children were engaged in hazardous child labour and many of them were exploited in the large, unregulated traditional apprenticeship schemes.

A network of non-governmental agencies, Action 2015 is demanding that the interest of children take precedence in the new post-2015 development framework.

Presenting a petition to the ministry of gender, children and social protection, the organisation called on the ministry to formulate legally binding framework to reduce poverty and inequality.

The deputy minister of gender, children and social protection, John Alexander Ackon pointed out Policies and programs such as the Capitation Grant, School Feeding Program and the National Health Insurance Scheme were geared towards a reduction in child labour.

He added that “we are operating a shelter, what it means is that when we are able to get those being trafficked and we do that with the police very strongly when we do is that we ensure that we give a level playing field before we introduce you back into society.”