Rainforest Alliance, an international non-profit organization, has underscored the detrimental impact of child Labour on both children and adults, emphasizing the need for collective action to eradicate this practice. Implementing a project aimed at eliminating forced and child labour in selected cocoa and mining communities, Rainforest Alliance has called on stakeholders to prioritize the protection of children's futures.

Mrs. Joyce Poku-Marboah, Senior Project Manager of Rainforest Alliance, made these remarks at a quarterly stakeholder meeting held in Nyinahin, Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region. The project, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), focuses on tackling forced and child labour in Ghanaian cocoa and gold mining communities across several districts.

Over the past three years, the project has provided support to government agencies, cocoa companies, traders, cooperatives, farmer groups, and gold associations to implement measures addressing forced and child labour. Additionally, key state institutions such as the Ghana Education Service, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and District Assemblies play essential roles in protecting vulnerable children and adults under the NORAD-funded project.

During the meeting, participants highlighted the urgent need to build a school at Ampenkro to prevent children from trekking long distances to attend school, thereby reducing their vulnerability to child labour. Three mining companies also shared their efforts in combating child labour, including providing infrastructure and support to communities.

Mrs. Poku-Marboah emphasized the importance of incorporating child labour and child protection issues into medium-term plans of local assemblies and making commitments accessible to communities for monitoring purposes. She also encouraged stakeholders to disseminate information about available opportunities such as scholarships and free apprenticeship trainings.

Madam Aba Oppong, Executive Director of Rights and Responsibilities Initiative Ghana (RRIG), local partners of the project, highlighted initiatives to train schools on children's rights and responsibilities and to empower women through income-generating activities. The establishment of a Village Savings and Loans scheme has enabled women to mobilize funds to support their children's education, further contributing to the project's objectives of creating resilient communities free from child labor.