Better Data, Brighter Futures: Ghana's Child Labour Response
Accurate data is transforming Ghana’s fight against child labour. By identifying vulnerable children and driving targeted interventions, Ghana is proving that data is more than numbers; it’s a tool for rescue, protection, and change.
14 May 2025
On Lake Volta, children as young as five struggles through 10-hour fishing days, facing starvation, abuse, and drowning risks instead of classroom lessons.
They are among Ghana's 2.5 million child labourers—28% of all children aged 5-17—revealed by the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2017/18). To rescue these children from exploitation, Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has launched an ambitious data collection initiative to identify these vulnerable children and fuel targeted interventions. By mapping the true extent of child labour with unprecedented precision, Ghana is transforming abstract statistics into powerful tools that locate, protect, and liberate its most vulnerable children.
The challenge of child labour in Ghana
Child labour in Ghana is prevalent in key sectors such as agriculture, fishing, and mining, where children are often subjected to hazardous working conditions. Socio-economic factors such as poverty, lack of access to quality education, and cultural practices contribute to the persistence of child labour, particularly in rural areas, where 37.1% of children are engaged in labour.
Accurate and comprehensive data is crucial to understanding the extent of child labour and formulating effective interventions. Without reliable statistics, policymakers and stakeholders face challenges in designing targeted programmes that address the root causes and provide sustainable solutions.
Capacity building and training initiatives
In July 2023, GSS participated in an ILO-led training in Addis Ababa, aimed at equipping African National Statistical Offices (NSOs) with methodologies to collect and analyse child labour data effectively. The training provided tools and best practices that enabled GSS to integrate a child labour module into the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 8), aligning data collection with national legislation and international standards.
Anthony Oduro-Denkyirah, a Senior Statistician and Labour Market Economist at GSS, highlighted the importance of the training: "The training equipped us with the necessary tools to define and measure child labour accurately, ensuring our data reflects the realities on the ground." This initiative has strengthened Ghana's capacity to collect, process, and disseminate data that will drive evidence-based policymaking.
Stakeholder collaboration and national framework development
A key aspect of Ghana's success in improving child labour data collection has been the engagement of multiple stakeholders. Anthony Oduro-Denkyirah is also a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Development of Child Labour Compendium constituted by the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and other partners to develop a National Compendium on Child Labour, which when finalized will serve as a standardized framework for child labour research in Ghana.
By involving stakeholders in the design of the child labour module, GSS ensured that the questionnaire captured diverse perspectives while maintaining compliance with national and international guidelines. "By involving various stakeholders, we ensured that our approach was comprehensive and inclusive, capturing diverse perspectives," stated Oduro-Denkyirah. The collaborative approach has enhanced the credibility and applicability of the collected data, facilitating better policy responses.
Monitoring, quality assurance, and future adaptation
To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, GSS has implemented rigorous monitoring and quality assurance mechanisms. This includes continuous field monitoring, data validation processes, and regular feedback loops. The integration of these measures has improved the consistency and completeness of child labour data.
Looking ahead, GSS is committed to refining its methodologies and sharing its experiences with other African nations through an ILO-organized webinar in 2025. "Our journey doesn't end here; we are committed to refining our methods and sharing our experiences to combat child labour across the continent," affirmed Oduro-Denkyirah.
The training provided to Ghana Statistical Service is part of ILO's broader commitment to building statistical capacity across Africa. When countries have reliable data, they can design targeted interventions that address the root causes of child labour rather than just its symptoms.
Vanessa Lerato Phala, Director, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, and Liaison Office for ECOWAS
Sustaining Ghana’s Progress Against Child Labour
Ghana’s advancements in child labour data collection, supported by the ILO, underscore the transformative power of accurate, timely data in driving real-world impact. Through robust methodologies, strong stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to continuous improvement, Ghana has laid the groundwork for evidence-based policymaking.
To sustain this momentum, long-term investment and coordinated efforts are essential. National policymakers, international development partners, and civil society organizations must come together to translate data insights into concrete interventions that protect children and address the root causes of child labour.
As Ghana prepares to share its experiences with other countries, it has the opportunity to lead by example—advocating for a data-driven, collaborative approach that ensures every child enjoys their right to a safe and dignified childhood.