Over the years, Child Rights International (CRI) has been guided by a singular motive, to promote and protect the inherent dignity of every child and see to the realization of their fundamental human rights and is committed to the 1992 constitution, Children’s Act 560 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Among other programs, CRI since 2017 has committed itself to the establishment of the Ghana Child Labour Monitoring System (GCLMS) in all our project areas. This system was solely purposed to establish community-based structures, collect data and provide remediation, and conducting monitoring.

Currently, CRI together with its partners has established the GCLMS in, 1070 communities across cocoa growing areas covering a total of 42,815 farmer households and 195,843 household members made up of 98,435 males and 74,407 females in the community register.

As a result of the GCLM SYSTEM, CRI has reached 72,893 children comprising 42,715 males and 30,178 females.

Based on the GCLMS, CRI and its partners have provided support for 38,160 children through our Mobile Library Project. Over 6,000 children have been beneficiaries of our direct remediation program through scholarship programs, the provision of uniforms, shoes, bags, books, and bicycles. 273 children have also been enrolled in apprenticeships in instances where formal education is no longer an option due to age.

The enrolment rate of children in schools in growing areas has increased from 80% to 98% and the completion rate stands at 82% from primary to JHS.

Much has been done, yet much still remains to be accomplished. As we mark this years’ World Day Against Child Labour Day-themed “Act Now: End Child Labour!” We commend government and community members in upholding the cause leading to the elimination of child labour in cocoa-growing areas in Ghana. In cocoa-growing communities, child labour has reduced significantly by 27%. This shows community preparedness when appropriate systems are engaged in the elimination of child labour in the cocoa sectors. Other sectors are experiencing increased levels of child labour and the same commitment shown in the cocoa sector must be replicated in areas such as fishery, oil palm production, streetism, and others in order to reduce the general margins of child labour in Ghana.

We must remember that protecting children is a job for everybody. We’ll do our part and children are counting on you to do yours. The dream is to leave no child behind.

^{Signed By}

^{Bright Kweku Appiah}

^{Executive Director}