Ghana holds a national stakeholder consultation meeting to develop a workplan to accelerate the elimination of child labour in cocoa and gold supply chains.
The meeting stimulated inclusive discussions which led to the development of a shared national vision, through a project's workplan to achieve the project's goal and its alignment with SDG 8.7.
28 February 2024
Ghana, 27- 28 February 2024- Ghana held a national level stakeholder consultation meeting towards accelerating the elimination of child labour in cocoa and gold supply chains. The meeting was organized by the ILO, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations through Phase II of the ACCEL Africa Project.
The meeting, which was attended by representatives of government, institutions, and project districts, generated concrete ideas that represent the national input into the implementation of the project in Ghana. It also stimulated inclusive discussions which led to the development of a shared national vision, through a project workplan on how to achieve the project goal which is aligned with SDG 8.7 which seeks to “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms’’.
Representing the ILO regional office for Africa, Mr. Minoru Ogasawara expressed appreciation to stakeholders for participating and emphasized that, the ILO will work closely with the Ministry, UNICEF, World Bank, JICA and other agencies to create synergies towards the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Ghana. Mr. Zoubog Philip Neri, representing Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was optimistic about Phase II of ACCEL Africa Project and believe the project workplan will lead to a strong collaboration among stakeholders towards ensuring that cocoa and gold production in Ghana is done in a child labour free environment.
It was concluded that the project workplan, which is a product of the consultation meeting be presented to the National Steering Committed on Child Labour for validation before its adoption for project implementation. Following validation of the project workplan, the project will be jointly launched in March 2024, with other child labour related projects implemented by UNICEF, World Bank and JICA.
The meeting, which was attended by representatives of government, institutions, and project districts, generated concrete ideas that represent the national input into the implementation of the project in Ghana. It also stimulated inclusive discussions which led to the development of a shared national vision, through a project workplan on how to achieve the project goal which is aligned with SDG 8.7 which seeks to “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms’’.
Representing the ILO regional office for Africa, Mr. Minoru Ogasawara expressed appreciation to stakeholders for participating and emphasized that, the ILO will work closely with the Ministry, UNICEF, World Bank, JICA and other agencies to create synergies towards the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Ghana. Mr. Zoubog Philip Neri, representing Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was optimistic about Phase II of ACCEL Africa Project and believe the project workplan will lead to a strong collaboration among stakeholders towards ensuring that cocoa and gold production in Ghana is done in a child labour free environment.
It was concluded that the project workplan, which is a product of the consultation meeting be presented to the National Steering Committed on Child Labour for validation before its adoption for project implementation. Following validation of the project workplan, the project will be jointly launched in March 2024, with other child labour related projects implemented by UNICEF, World Bank and JICA.