By Seli Baisie and Charles Amponsah
The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association, has held a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at equipping journalists with the skills needed to report effectively on child and forced labour in cocoa-producing areas.
The event, which took place at Assin Fosu in the Central Region, introduced participants to the Landscape and Referral Project, a key initiative spearheaded by ICI and its partners.
The project is currently being implemented in the Assin North, Assin Central, and Assin South districts of the Central Region, as well as the Asunafo North Municipality in the Ahafo Region.
Meeting with key government stakeholders
As part of the training, participants engaged with key government stakeholders and service providers, including officials from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Social Welfare and Community Development Department, the Ghana Education Service, and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), among others.
Mr. Musah Abubakari from the Social Welfare and Community Development Department highlighted the project’s impact on community engagement and awareness.
“The Landscape Project extends to community levels, enhancing joint community engagement and awareness,” he noted.
He added that the project has provided logistical support such as motorbikes, printers, and computers to the department, enabling them to work more efficiently.
Sharing a success story on the rescue of a child from a shrine with support from ICI, DOVSU, and Ghana Education Service, Mr Abubakar revealed that the child was provided with school logistics and reintegrated back to school.
Girls’ education
For her part, a representative from the Ghana Education Service, Madam Stella Akua Monney, commended ICI for their efforts in supporting girl-child education.
She highlighted the provision of sanitary pads and hygiene materials as a significant intervention.
“When it comes to sanitary pads, it’s a very big problem. The lack of access leads to many issues. Some girls, due to this lack, engage in sexual activities, which results in early pregnancies and school dropouts. This intervention has helped many girls, improving their well-being and school attendance,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to ICI, other NGOs, and the media for their support but stressed that more work needs to be done.
School Attendance
Touching on a multi-faceted strategy to tackle the issue of children being withheld from school, a Registrar at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mark Mensah, advocated for a blend of persuasive dialogue and legal measures to address the problem effectively.
Speaking at Nsuaem Kyekyewere during the field trip engagement, Mr. Mensah highlighted the importance of engaging with guardians to help them understand the need for children to attend school. This collaborative approach, he argued, aims to address cultural and social barriers while fostering understanding.
At the same time, he stressed the necessity of legal action against non-compliance, describing it as a deterrent to others holding similar views. “Prosecuting offenders will set an example and demonstrate the seriousness of the issue,” he noted.
In addition, he noted that public awareness campaigns, including newspaper initiatives, are being considered to educate the broader community about the importance of education and the consequences of withholding children from school.
While acknowledging that no single approach can resolve every case, Mr. Mensah underscored the need for diverse strategies to ensure that all children have access to education.
About the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)
The International Cocoa Initiative is a Switzerland-based non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting child protection and addressing child labour in cocoa-growing communities. Established in 2002, ICI operates as a multi-stakeholder partnership involving the cocoa industry, civil society, and governments to create sustainable solutions.
What They Do:
ICI works to improve child protection systems and livelihoods in cocoa-producing regions, particularly in West Africa, which supplies most of the world’s cocoa. They conduct research, provide training, and implement community-led programs to tackle child labour and its root causes.
Key Initiatives:
Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS): Identifies, prevents, and addresses child labour through community engagement and regular monitoring.
Community Action Plans (CAPs): Empowers communities to address challenges and implement locally driven solutions, including improving education and agricultural practices.
Advocacy and Research: Collaborates with stakeholders to influence policy, strengthen child protection laws, and provide data for evidence-based interventions.
ICI’s work has been instrumental in raising awareness and building capacity to address child labour in the cocoa sector while promoting sustainable development.
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ICI is really doing a good job. More grease to their elbows